A NEW 24/7 urgent community response service has been launched by Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

The collaborative care team – comprising a range of healthcare professionals – aims to help people stay well at home, avoiding the need for a hospital admission.

Patients will be assessed within two hours of the team receiving a referral – which could be from a GP, community matron, district nurse, the ambulance service or from the Airedale Hospital emergency department or acute assessment unit.

"We do a full assessment of the patient's needs to see whether we can keep them safely at home," says Sarah Emsley, urgent community response practitioner with Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

"During the next 48 hours we can arrange continued support if they need help to recover and increase their independence, or if it’s a long-term need then we'd work with our partners in social care or with one of many voluntary services. This might be Carers' Resource or Safe and Sound, which for example could help the patient have a pendant alarm fitted to summon assistance if needed."

She added that in one month alone, 115 patients were seen and 93 per cent were able to stay at home.