There was praise for the NHS Forth Valley’s Hospital at Home team during a visit from Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to Falkirk Community Hospital where the team are based.
Announcing further funding of £3.6m to expand this type of service across Scotland, he said the scheme was being very successful so far and there was a real benefit to treating people at home where possible.
The Hospital at Home service aims to reduce hospital admissions for elderly patients by providing medical care in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. It enables people to receive treatments that would otherwise require them to be admitted to hospital, such as an intravenous fluids or temporary oxygen supplies. It also provides access to hospital tests under the care of a consultant in their own home.
Evidence shows that those benefitting from the service are more likely to avoid hospital or care home stays for up to six months after a period of acute illness. For older patients, it means being able to stay at home longer without losing their independence and this has contributed to overall improvements in patient satisfaction as well as alleviating pressure on hospital beds.
Dr Sarah Henderson, Consultant Geriatrician for NHS Forth Valley’s Hospital at Home Team, added: “We know from feedback how much local patients have valued being able to stay in familiar, comfortable surroundings without the anxiety and disruption often associated with an admission to hospital. This is also less stressful for family and friends who know that their loved one is getting all the medical care and attention they require at home.”
More than 750 patients across the Forth Valley area have benefited from the Hospital at Home service since it was established in May 2021.
