- NHS offers “health MOTs” for older adults
- Assessments at A&E to reduce hospitalizations
- Initiative part of urgent care recovery plan
NHS England said the method, which would target adults aged 65 and up or those with frailty-related diseases, could be a “lifeline” for many patients.
The health service has announced that “health MOTs” will be provided to older individuals “at the front door” of hospital A&E departments to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations.
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the strategy might be a “lifeline” for many patients by allowing them to be assessed and helped more quickly.
It will target adults aged 65 and up, as well as those with frailty-related disorders.
The tests, which will be offered for 10 hours a day, seven days a week, will assess blood pressure, heart health, mobility, and malnutrition.
NHS workers will also review a patient’s respiratory and fall data.
Patients will be referred to specialist care based on the results, such as fall prevention and dementia support.
Ms Pritchard stated that while some people require admission, it is not always the best setting for older patients’ needs, and they might quickly lose mobility while in the hospital.
Health MOTs at the front door of A&Es for older people could be a lifeline for many – from blood pressure readings to a review of their fall history, these checks allow patients to be assessed swiftly and guided to the appropriate care.
NHS England estimates that approximately one million persons over the age of 75 are admitted to hospitals each year, with one-fifth of them being very weak.
According to a report published in April by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, more than 250 individuals per week in England may have died prematurely last year as a result of extremely high wait times for a bed in A&E.
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It discovered that there was an additional mortality for every 72 individuals who spent eight to twelve hours in A&E.
The new strategy is part of an update to the urgent and emergency care recovery plan, which was implemented in May.
The proposal also includes cash incentives for hospitals that do not keep patients waiting in A&E for more than 12 hours, as well as the growth of virtual wards to free up space in emergency departments.
