Good Hope Hospital Community Unit 27

About our unit

Community Unit 27 offers a period of enhanced assessment to patients who are medically fit for discharge from an acute hospital bed but are currently unable to return to their place of residence due to a change in their health or social function.

 

 

Who is the unit suitable for?

Community Unit 27 (CU27) is a 28-bedded unit based in the north of the city based at the Good Hope Hospital (Sheldon Block).  For adults aged 18 and above who would benefit from a short period of assessment following illness or injury.

 

 

CU27 is a short stay unit working within the Discharge to Assess [D2A) model for patients on Pathway 2, using a ‘home first’ approach. Our aim is to start planning your discharge from admission. So, when acute hospital inpatient care is no longer indicated, the CU27 team will work with the patient and family to plan discharge.

 

In accordance with the ‘Discharge 2 Assess’ model, our aim is to get patients to their appropriate discharge destination as soon as they are medically optimised.  If the patient requires rehabilitation, this may be continued within the community.

 

There are criteria for admission, and the referring hospital will liaise directly with the unit, ensuring a seamless handover of care.

 

 

What should patients expect when they arrive?

Nurses, an Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist and a Physiotherapist will assess soon after admission, and together with the patient identify goals to achieve during their stay. The Therapy assistant and Healthcare assistants will also support and continue those programmes, encouraging independence throughout the day and night where applicable.

 

There is medical cover from daily visiting GP’s, who review any patients in need.   Transport to clinic appointments e.g. at Good Hope, Heartlands or QEH is arranged as appropriate.

 

We have housekeepers and domestic staff who ensure nutritional needs are catered for and the cleanliness of the environment is always of a high standard.

 

 

When should a patient expect to return home? 

Planning to go home is always a priority and an estimated discharge date will be given shortly after admission, but this a guide only, so if goals are achieved sooner or no progress made, this date will be discussed with the patient and may be adjusted. As soon as it is identified that a patient no longer requires Inpatient care, discharge will be facilitated.

 

Throughout their stay, staff will help the patient and family/carers to prepare for discharge, and if rehab or care is identified for home, with consent, we will make referrals to the necessary agencies.   If eligible the Early Intervention Community Team (EICT) will carry out an assessment of the patients’ rehabilitation needs within their home environment on discharge.

 

 We are proud of the service that we offer at CU27 and want to make the experience as positive as possible. We aim to provide a safe, clean, and friendly environment where patients' dignity and confidentiality will be maintained at all times.

 

 

Information for carers / family members:

Visiting times*

• 11am-12noon
• 1pm-5pm
• 6pm-8pm

 

We welcome your feedback and senior staff are available for meetings and discussion. If you have any concerns or compliments please do not hesitate to let up know.

 

 

Referrals

The referral process for community unit 27 is via the acute hospitals electronic referral system called transfer of care. This can be found on each patient’s electronic handover, the ward areas complete this electronically and the patient is then assessed for the service. Referrals can also be made from the front door of the acute hospital by either telephoning the unit or contacting the intermediate care liaison nurse Monday to Friday 8.00 - 4.00 based at Good Hope Hospital.

 

 

Laundry

Please note that we are in the process of updating the information contained in the Ward Welcome Packs.  We are not able to wash personal items of clothing.  There are washing baskets or lockers in the patient’s room or bed area and it is important that relatives/friends check this regularly for dirty washing as this will have to be taken to be washed.  The dirty washing will be placed in red (Alginate) bags that can be placed straight into a washing machine and will dissolve during the washing cycle.

 

If there is a problem with washing personal items please speak to the nurse in charge.