A NEW scheme has been launched that aims to see patients return home from hospital sooner to free up beds for others.

Together with Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East adult social care departments, NHS Cheshire CCG has mobilised an accelerated discharge process to help maintain capacity in the county’s hospitals.

Working with telecare partner Doro Care UK, pendant alarms worn on around the wrist or neck are being offered to patients leaving hospital, and are delivered to their home within two hours of discharge.

This can provide peace of mind to those who need to self-isolate or have health conditions, and is a way of being able to contact trained professionals in a contact centre 24 hours a day in case of an emergency.

A keysafe will also be installed so that in the event of an emergency, a code can be given to the emergency services who can gain access to the property without force.

Doro will be working seven days a week to ensure as many people can benefit from the service as quickly as possible.

Doro’s monitoring centre ‘Welbeing’ will also carry out follow up welfare calls with patients where required to make sure they are settled and have everything they need to live safely whilst in isolation.

The equipment and 24-hour support is provided free of charge to the customer for a specified period, with the option of converting to a private customer at the end of the period.

Wendy Darling, Doro UK country director, said: “We have seen an unprecedented need for our services during the pandemic.

“We are working hard with hospital discharge teams across the UK to get people home from hospital as quickly as we can.

“Our key workers are working incredibly hard with our clients and customers to help the vulnerable stay safe during this very difficult time.”