The NHS is struggling to keep up with the winter season’s unprecedented demand. As well as taking its toll on staff, having hospitals running at 95% capacity 10% more than the recommended maximum, which is also having a devastating effect on our emergency services, as ambulance response times have become longer, as well as hospital corridors are overrun with waiting patients.
Staff shortages don’t help, but part of the problem is the backlog of patients waiting to be discharged. As many as 13,000 beds a day are being occupied by patients who are fit to leave but can’t, because care and respite homes are also full. The NHS’s home care services are likewise stretched to breaking point, and with nurses leaving trusts at a rate of 15% last year, the situation isn’t likely to improve any time soon.
Affordable Home Solutions
Therefore, to help ease overcrowded hospitals up and down the UK, here are four highly effective alternatives:
1. Help at Home Agencies: Services like Elder Home Care provide full-time, live-in carers to assist with everything from administering medication, bathroom routines and meal preparation. Some can also provide domiciliary care or temporary care so family caregivers can have a break. Rates for home carers start at around £20 per hour or £800 per week, and there’s no waiting list.
2. Home Equipment: Home adjustments that can make life easier include ramps, stair rails, commodes, personal alarms, sensor lights and hospital beds. As well as having several medical benefits, these adjustable beds have extra safety features like side rails, wheels and adjustable height, also reducing the risk to carers. A swing feature, such as in the Mobility Furniture Company’s Bingley Bed, makes it possible for the user to get themselves in and out, which encourages mobility and promotes independence.
3. Meal Delivery Services: There are now dozens of meal delivery services available in the UK, with a wide range of budget options. Some services, like Cook, Oakhouse and Wiltshire Farm Foods, deliver pre-made, frozen meals that only need to be microwaved, and many cater for specific dietary requirements.
4. NHS Social Care: Everyone is entitled to a free assessment to determine what services and equipment they might benefit from. For those not eligible for free or subsidised services, or for those who don’t wish to wait, these can be arranged and paid for privately, or the council can arrange them and bill afterwards. Many charities, such as The Silver Line or Age UK, also provide support and advice.
The Bottom Line
With an increasingly ageing population and continued staff shortages, the number of beds available in respite and care homes will likely fall short of demand for some time. Using home solutions may be the best way for some patients to return home, and by decreasing the chances of readmittance, it can help preserve the NHS in the long term.
