Dr Elizabeth Johnston, chair of the South Reading NHS CCG has been looking at the work of the Community Rapid Response Team in the South Reading CCG area and has provided us with the following short report:
Within the Berkshire West Area South Reading CCG is the highest user of the Community Rapid Response and Reablement team (CRRTeam) and has the lowest number of admissions to hospital within four weeks of using the team.
Outcomes for patients who have been through this community service are also encouraging with the lowest percentage for deterioration, hospital admission and death.
Of the patients who were admitted to hospital, discharged but readmitted later many of these were for new symptoms unrelated to the previous admission.
GPs within South Reading CCG wish to support ill patients at home where it is not necessary for them to go to hospital for specific treatment; therefore the CRRTeam, which provides nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy input to patients in their own home, along with homecare input up to 4 times a day for 6 weeks, is showing to be a successful service to enable this to happen and to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.
Referrals can be made by GPs to this service via the Health Hub 7 days a week