Publish date: 1 February 2023

The Trust welcomed ITV News to Clayponds Hospital in Ealing on Monday (30 January) for a news report on how its helping support patients in the community and taking pressure off acute hospitals.

It comes after the NHS launched its urgent and emergency care (UEC) recovery plan, which aims to free up space in hospitals and speed up discharge for those who are medically fit to leave.

Emily Morgan, the health editor for ITV News, attended with a film crew and spoke with the Trust's Director of Integrated Community Health Services, Dr Claire Dillon.

The UEC recovery plan also has a focus on step down care like the Trust offers in Ealing, with patients receiving rehabilitation and physiotherapy, including aftercare, at home.

The ITV crew then joined community physiotherapist, Marjon Polman, who works within the short term rehabilitation team on one of her home visits.

They visited Mary Devlin, aged 79, who has been receiving support after falling whilst painting at home and damaging her spine.

Mary told ITV News: "You're more comfortable in your own home, your own surroundings, and your own bed. Beds were ok in hospital but it's much nicer being at home."

In February 2023, Ealing Community Partners (ECP) are launching a Frailty Virtual Ward Service which will initially support patients to be discharged earlier from acute hospitals to their own home. While at home they will then be monitored using technology and receive treatment from community clinicians.  Nationally there are plans to increase the number of virtual ward beds with 50,000 patients expected to benefit by the end of 2023/24.

ECP are also working with the Borough to enhance our admission avoidance offer which reduces the burden on acute beds but also keeps people closer to home and to their families.

You can watch the ITV News report here