Extra care home services provide capacity to free-up NHS beds for virus patients

A Bramhall Manor bedroom

Health and social care partners in Stockport have commissioned a new 71-bed facility, Bramhall Manor, to care for patients who are well enough to be discharged from hospital but need further assessment to identify their ongoing care needs.

Bramhall Manor, New Care’s latest state-of-the-art care facility, will begin to receive patients from March 31, and is part of a joint Borough-wide plan to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Patients who are medically fit to be discharged from hospital will either be discharged home or, will be transferred to out-of-hospital facilities for further assessment and support, such as Bramhall Manor.

This will free up vital beds at Stepping Hill Hospital for patients who will need more intensive care due to coronavirus.

Bramhall Manor is a brand new, purpose-built care facility that was completed in March 2020.

It will provide 71 fully furnished private rooms, each with en suite facilities. There are several communal lounges, libraries and dining rooms as well as extensive gardens.

To help staff, patients and relatives, NHS England has updated its guidance.

In order to meet the demand for hospital in-patient care brought about by coronavirus, patients who are assessed as medically fit to leave hospital will be discharged within two hours of a discharge decision being made.

Patients will be discharged with up to 14-days medication where required to reduce any impact on GPs and pharmacies.

Where patients return home, they will be supported by a dedicated clinical team who will be in contact with them to ensure they are well and recovering.

For those who are transferred to the new purpose-built Bramhall Manor, they will continue to receive care from a team of nurses, GPs and social care staff, in order to enable them to also return home when they are ready.

Pam Smith, Stockport Council chief executive, said: “The strength of our partnership working across Stockport has meant we are able to work together to support local people and communities.

“Bramhall Manor will enable local people to safely leave hospital and continue to receive care and support until they are well enough to go home.

“We all find ourselves in an unprecedented global situation and I am really proud of how colleagues and volunteers have been working to ensure that local people have the support and care they need.”

Louise Robson, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, said: “The new facility at Bramhall Manor will provide ongoing care for patients once they leave hospital and it will be one of a number of important steps we need to take locally in caring for patients.

“We also need relatives to help us when someone is discharged as there is a shorter timeframe for patients to leave the hospital. This allows us to then clean and re-use the hospital bed, which will be an essential part of caring for those local people with coronavirus.

“We appreciate this is a difficult time for us all and we need everyone to help the NHS.”

Andrea Green, accountable officer, NHS Stockport CCG, added: “The decision to open Bramhall Manor will ensure we are able to continue to provide high-quality care for patients during one of the most challenging times the NHS and social care has ever faced.

Dining room

“I want to pay tribute to the huge local effort in responding to the coronavirus pandemic and we are all immensely proud of the work of frontline and support staff, and local volunteers, which enables us to continue providing care across Stockport communities.”

Cath Fairhurst, New Care chief operating officer, said: “Coronavirus has put significant pressure on the NHS, and the current situation has also highlighted the shortfall of beds in hospitals, many of which are used by stable patients who have been medically discharged but require rehabilitation before returning home.

“Often, there is nowhere for these patients to go, so they remain in hospital.

“Bramhall Manor will be used to free up hospital beds at Stepping Hill Hospital by providing a care pathway for medically stabilised patients, who would otherwise stay in hospital for prolonged periods.

“We are pleased we can support local partners in managing the current crisis, and looking to the future, provide much needed care home beds to deal with the longer-term implications of the more vulnerable patients.”

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