Care Connexions, a partnership between health, social care, housing and voluntary organisations, has been established to support people to stay safe and well in their own homes. Offering a seamless triage of referrals to admission avoidance services, ensuring patients are offered the right care at the right time.
These services, including two-hour urgent community response, virtual wards, same day emergency care, home first, Royal Voluntary Service and Age UK, are often a more appropriate first point of call, and correct referrals can help keep patients out of hospital where possible. When hospital admission is medically indicated Care Connexions will expediate admission to the most appropriate department or service to meet the patient's needs.
The service, based in Central Lancashire, accepts referrals for people living in Preston, Chorley and South Ribble. Referrals are accepted from GPs, social care colleagues and other health professionals including, North West Ambulance Service, care home staff and district nurses, for services users with a physical health or social care need.
The phone number is 01772 777999, and referrals can be made between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week.
The phone number presents referrers with 3 options.
- Option 1 – Hospital admission avoidance
- Option 2 – Acute medical assessments including virtual ward
- Option 3 - MAP team for all other enquiries
The team of highly skilled professionals will then triage patients and direct them to the most appropriate service for the patient.
The services involved in the partnership include
Two hour urgent community response allows patients over 18 years of age to safely and conveniently receive sub-acute care from advanced clinical practitioners and therapists at their usual place of residence, including care homes to avoid admission to hospital. For a same day face to face response referrals must be in by 6pm. Patients who have received 2UCR care in the past 6 months can self-refer for triage.
Virtual wards allow patients over 18 years of age to safely and conveniently receive acute care at their usual place of residence, including care homes.
Same Day Emergency Care is a national model within the NHS that aims to provide specialist emergency care for patients who would otherwise have been admitted to hospital, but who can be safely assessed, diagnosed, and treated on the same day as their arrival.
The home first service aims to meet the needs of people with enhanced needs leaving hospital and returning back home. The community based team provides assessments, interventions, rehabilitation and support to people coming out of hospital.
The support provided includes bringing people home from hospital, running home libraries and providing companionship support, to promote better health, social interaction and connection and relieve the pressure on NHS and Care.
Age UK offer services and support to those aged 50+ which aim to ensure older people and their carers are fully informed of their rights and entitlements. It supports those with long term conditions to remain and independent as possible, connecting older people to their communities to combat isolation and loneliness.
MAP is the referral management service for district nursing, frailty, community therapy and falls.