HEALTH
Minister Edwina Hart has launched a pilot project to help frail older people
who’ve been in hospital for minor conditions to return to the comfort of their
own homes to recuperate.

The
scheme, which began in November, is called the Frailty Fast Track Project and
will be trialled at Wrexham Maelor Hospital
for six months.

It
aims to prevent elderly people from being delayed in hospital after they’ve
been treated for a minor ailment, which can result in their ability to care for
themselves being reduced.

Instead, frail, older patients will be helped through the hospital care
system to allow them to go home promptly when they are well.  When they
return home, patients will have access to extra care and support, if needed, to
allow them to comfortably resettle into their daily lives.

Mrs Hart said: "This pilot project will be an innovative way to try to
streamline care for vulnerable older patients who need hospital treatment for
relatively minor conditions but may face unnecessary delays during their stay.

“Often this delayed transfer from hospital is usually against patients’ and
carers’ wishes and also means additional cost for the health and social
services.  

“If this project can reduce the amount of time a patient needs to stay in
hospital,  it will allow older people to comfortably return to their daily
routine as soon as possible and continue to live independently in their own
homes.”

Chief medical officer for Wales,
Dr Tony Jewell, said: “The project will support older patients through their
stay in hospital and provide extra assistance to help them resettle into their
own homes so that they are able to resume their day to day lives as soon as
possible.

“Enabling staff to follow the patient from hospital into the
community to improve continuity of care for the frail elderly should improve
effective communication between hospital and community services and help
patients and families feel supported.”