Health bosses in South Cumbria have launched a new scheme to help patients when they are discharged from hospital.
Teams will be based at Furness General Hospital in Barrow and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary as part of the transfer of care hub.
They will work with partners across the Morecambe Bay area to make sure people who no longer need to be in hospital are supported in one easy process.
Tracy Ashton, discharge lead for Furness General Hospital, said: “We aim to improve patient experience. We are working with partners to ensure that all the support patients require is in place quicker.
“This will help to reduce risks including hospital-acquired infections including COVID-19 and prolonged length of stay in hospital.”
Sharon Doyle, discharge lead for the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Kendal’s Westmorland General Hospital, added: “It also aims to improve patient flow throughout our hospitals, including freeing up beds quicker for those requiring urgent medical care and potentially taking the pressure off the front door and reducing waiting times in our emergency departments.”
Work began in summer 2021 to establish the hub.
Partners include Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Care, Lancashire County Council, North Yorkshire County Council, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, the voluntary sector, Lancaster City Council, South Lakeland District Council, Barrow Borough Council, North West Ambulance Service, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit.
Local hospices have also been instrumental in the hub’s development, health bosses said.
