BARNSLEY Hospital celebrated a major milestone in improving care for elderly people by opening its new frailty emergency centre.
Frailty occurs when a person’s physical and physiological reserves decline, which causes the difficulty when recovering from health issues.
The new purpose-built facility provides a dedicated, person-centred alternative to the accident and emergency department for some of the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.
This way those who need it are able to access expert care without unnecessary hospital admission where possible, therefore supporting better outcomes and helping patients maintain their quality of life.
Sarah Moppett, chief nurse at Barnsley Hospital, said: “The hospital is the right place for some patients but for others being here means they will move around less, they might become a bit confused, and their routines will be interrupted.
“For some people with frailty that can be really unsettling.
“There’s quite a lot of evidence to show that for some patients, once they have spent a certain amount of time in hospital, if they are frail or elderly they never get back to baseline.”
The frailty same-day care facility was opened in the morning with an official ribbon-cutting, where one of the first patients, 87-year-old Margaret Robinson, got the honour of making the cut.
While the facility is new, service has been working relentlessly over the past few years to deliver significant benefits despite being in a temporary location.
Dr Kath Shakespeare, who played a lead role in the service’s development, said: “It is so important to have the right environment to do our job well.
“It is also so great because our patents are so precious to us and to be able to give them the best possible care in the best possible environment that suits their needs.
“It means everything, it really does.”
The philosophy of the service is explained by Dr Shakespeare using a painting by renowned Sheffield artist Pete McKee.
The image depicts a patient surrounded my family, loved ones and hospital workers in the background.
It serves as a reminder that each person arriving at the service has a rich history, relationships and experienced that should be considered as a part of their care.
Sarah said: “The opening of our dedicated frailty same-day emergency care service is a significant milestone for Barnsley Hospital and, most importantly, for our patients.
“The new unit will help more frail older people receive timely specialist care in an environment designed around their needs, enabling many to return home sooner and avoid unnecessary hospital admission.
“I am incredibly proud of the teams whose commitment, innovation and compassion have made this service a reality.”
