RAPID RESPONSE RAPID RESPONSE TEAM NEWPORT TEAM NEWPORT Service Provision Service Provision

and Referral and Referral Criteria Criteria

Where are we?Where are we?

The Rapid Response Team (R.R.T) is part The Rapid Response Team (R.R.T) is part of the Intermediate Care Team based at St of the Intermediate Care Team based at St Woolos Hospital, Stow Hill, Newport.Woolos Hospital, Stow Hill, Newport.

The R.R.T consists of five nurses with The R.R.T consists of five nurses with various medical backgrounds, both acute various medical backgrounds, both acute and chronic. We have been fortunate and chronic. We have been fortunate enough to have integrated with a larger enough to have integrated with a larger team that together can offer the team that together can offer the patient/client both health and social care.patient/client both health and social care.

HoursHours of Workof Work

8am-8pm, seven days a week, 8am-8pm, seven days a week, including bank holidays.including bank holidays.

Pager-07699611685.Or through the Pager-07699611685.Or through the hospital switchboard on hospital switchboard on 01633/234234.01633/234234.

We cover all of the Newport G.P practices.

Aim of ServiceAim of Service

The aims of the R.R.T is to provide a The aims of the R.R.T is to provide a proactive, dynamic, skilled ‘Hospital at proactive, dynamic, skilled ‘Hospital at Home’ nursing service using evidence based Home’ nursing service using evidence based practice, for patients with non-life practice, for patients with non-life threatening, acute and chronic conditions.threatening, acute and chronic conditions.

Where possible we aim to prevent hospital Where possible we aim to prevent hospital admissions and facilitate safe early admissions and facilitate safe early discharge.discharge.

We work in partnership with the patient in We work in partnership with the patient in planning and implementing their treatment planning and implementing their treatment thus enabling them to facilitate their own self thus enabling them to facilitate their own self care.care.

Who can refer?Who can refer?

The R.R.T will accept referrals from any member The R.R.T will accept referrals from any member of the multidisciplinary team, once the patient of the multidisciplinary team, once the patient has had a full clinical assessment by either their has had a full clinical assessment by either their G.P or the medical team within the hospital, G.P or the medical team within the hospital, responsible for that patient.responsible for that patient.

A member of the R.R.T will assess the patients A member of the R.R.T will assess the patients suitability for acceptance to the caseload. The suitability for acceptance to the caseload. The initial assessment of the patient, where possible, initial assessment of the patient, where possible, should be performed within 90 minutes.should be performed within 90 minutes.

This involves a full nursing assessment of the This involves a full nursing assessment of the patient, to establish their individual needs and patient, to establish their individual needs and identify any potential problems: e.g. social care identify any potential problems: e.g. social care needs.needs.

What does Rapid Response What does Rapid Response offer?offer?

Intravenous Therapy via:Intravenous Therapy via: Peripheral CannulaPeripheral Cannula Picc LinePicc Line Hickman LineHickman Line Aphaeresis LineAphaeresis Line Mid Lines.Mid Lines. Therapy may consist of antibiotics, fluids Therapy may consist of antibiotics, fluids

or a combination of both.or a combination of both.

The introduction of a C.O.P.D Homecare scheme The introduction of a C.O.P.D Homecare scheme led by Dr Flood-Page Consultant Chest Physician, led by Dr Flood-Page Consultant Chest Physician, enables patients who have been admitted and enables patients who have been admitted and have been hospitalised for at least 12 hours the have been hospitalised for at least 12 hours the opportunity to be cared for in their own homes. opportunity to be cared for in their own homes.

The in taking team will be responsible for assessing The in taking team will be responsible for assessing the patient and once deemed medically fit, using the patient and once deemed medically fit, using the appropriate criteria will be referred to R.R.T.the appropriate criteria will be referred to R.R.T.

Each patient will be discharged with a rescue Each patient will be discharged with a rescue medication pack. All patients will have an medication pack. All patients will have an individual care plan, follow up appointment and will individual care plan, follow up appointment and will be discussed on a weekly basis at the multi-be discussed on a weekly basis at the multi-disciplinary meeting.disciplinary meeting.

Patients will be referred to Long Term Condition Patients will be referred to Long Term Condition Nurses on admission to R.R.T caseload Nurses on admission to R.R.T caseload

Management of patients during acute Management of patients during acute exacerbations of chronic disease, exacerbations of chronic disease, e.g. C.O.P.D, and M.S. This e.g. C.O.P.D, and M.S. This incorporates, support, advice, incorporates, support, advice, medication management and liasing medication management and liasing with other multi-disciplinary team with other multi-disciplinary team members, such as Long Term members, such as Long Term Condition nurses.Condition nurses.

We can offer patients, social care for up to We can offer patients, social care for up to a week from P.A.T.H (Prevention of a week from P.A.T.H (Prevention of Admission To Hospital). Also, short term Admission To Hospital). Also, short term physiotherapy and occupational therapy physiotherapy and occupational therapy can be accessed through R.R.T, using can be accessed through R.R.T, using Reablement. Both services are part of the Reablement. Both services are part of the Intermediate Care Team. Intermediate Care Team.

V.A.C therapy can be an alternative wound V.A.C therapy can be an alternative wound dressing and can be performed by the team dressing and can be performed by the team either separately or with a combination of either separately or with a combination of Intravenous Antibiotics.Intravenous Antibiotics.

Patients who suffer from either intolerance, Patients who suffer from either intolerance, or are unresponsive to oral Iron can be or are unresponsive to oral Iron can be offered Intravenous Venofer (Iron). As with all offered Intravenous Venofer (Iron). As with all therapies it is tailored to each patients therapies it is tailored to each patients individual needs.individual needs.

We all undertake both male and female We all undertake both male and female catheterisation, including urethral and catheterisation, including urethral and suprapubic catheters suprapubic catheters

Important Points to RememberImportant Points to Remember

11 Please check that there is availability on the Please check that there is availability on the caseload. Occasionally the caseload has been caseload. Occasionally the caseload has been closed due to the number of patients. It can be closed due to the number of patients. It can be distressing for the patient and relatives to be distressing for the patient and relatives to be told that they are to be discharged only to find told that they are to be discharged only to find that we are unable to accommodate them. that we are unable to accommodate them.

22 No drugs will be administered to any patient No drugs will be administered to any patient who does not have a medication chart. As part who does not have a medication chart. As part of the discharge process it is the responsibility of the discharge process it is the responsibility of the ward/unit to ensure that all the of the ward/unit to ensure that all the appropriate documentation e.g. prescription appropriate documentation e.g. prescription chart, follow-up appointments, is given to the chart, follow-up appointments, is given to the patient prior to discharge. It is not the patient prior to discharge. It is not the responsibility of the R.R.T to collect these.responsibility of the R.R.T to collect these.

3 3 All medication must be given to the All medication must be given to the patient prior to discharge as, it is against patient prior to discharge as, it is against Trust policy for nurses to carry drugs in Trust policy for nurses to carry drugs in their vehicles, with the exception of their vehicles, with the exception of AdrenalineAdrenaline..

44 If a patient requires dressings please If a patient requires dressings please ensure they are prescribed the appropriate ensure they are prescribed the appropriate amount for their individual needs, until amount for their individual needs, until they can contact their G.P. (This normally they can contact their G.P. (This normally takes approximately, 2-3 days).takes approximately, 2-3 days).

Thank YouThank You

The Rapid Response team takes this The Rapid Response team takes this opportunity to thank you for giving us your opportunity to thank you for giving us your time and hopefully future support.time and hopefully future support.

If at any time you feel unsure of what to If at any time you feel unsure of what to refer or whether we would accept a refer or whether we would accept a referral please phone and we will discuss it referral please phone and we will discuss it with you.with you.

It may be new to us, but we are always It may be new to us, but we are always looking at ways in which we can expand looking at ways in which we can expand the service.the service.