Homecare Rapid Response Team Prepares For Winter Period

Neath Port Talbot Council is working to ensure it can support more people to receive care in their own home and reduce the pressures placed on local care and health services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council’s Homecare Rapid Response Team (HRRT) has been expanded in time to help deal with the increased demand that the winter period places on services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The team does this in two key ways – providing a ‘step down’ service for people who are medically fit to leave hospital but need support at home, and providing personal care and support at home to people at risk of being admitted to hospital. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The team operate a fast response personal care service that is available seven days a week to people who are in need of urgent care. The service can be provided for up to three weeks whilst longer term arrangements are put into place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The service complements the work of the Community Resource Team (CRT) which is an integrated service provided by the Council and the ABMU Health Board that responds to individuals with complex healthcare needs. Working alongside CRT enables people to recover and be treated in the comfort of their own home while also alleviating the pressure on hospitals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since being introduced in July of this year, HRRT has supported over 90 people in their own home. The team has recently doubled in size and will be able to support more people in their homes and allow people who are fit to do so to leave hospital. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted to see the Homecare Rapid Response Team making such an impact in a short period of time. Both local authorities and the NHS are facing increasing pressures on their limited resources and so it essential we work collaboratively to deliver vital services to our communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Supporting people to remain in their own home and maintain their independence is a key priority to the Council. Even though hospital admissions are necessary on times, where appropriate, it is important that people can recover in their familiar surroundings.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​