Acute Care at Home Service is a dedicated Consultant Geriatrician led multidisciplinary team in the community. The Primary focus is on maintaining older people at home/Nursing/Residential in the event of an acute illness or unexpected deterioration in health. Provides triage, assessment, diagnosis and treatment as an alternative to in-patient care to those at risk of or potentially requiring admission to hospital treatment. Acute Care at Home accepts referrals from GP/GP OOHs/ Hospital Drs/ NIAS/ Heart Failure and Community Respiratory Teams.

All patients must have a medical assessment, from GP, medical staff in ED, AMU, Hospital wards or a full assessment completed by NIAS crew. Patient/client must be:

• over 65 years (Under 65 considered on individual basis if hospital admission would be detrimental);
• is resident in the Southern Trust pilot area;
• not deemed critically unwell;
• have been assessed as requiring acute care i.e. deemed to be at the point of hospital admission.;
• and can be managed safely in a community setting.

Exclusions Patient/client must not:

• require resuscitation;
• have chest pain;
• be in acute surgical or orthopaedic crisis;
• be having a stroke; have haematemesis/GI bleeding
• Require treatment for acute mental health deterioration (these are managed through Home Treatment Crisis response service).

The following list of referrers can access this service by calling the telephone number during the access times listed:

• GP
• GP OOH
• NIAS
• Hospital Doctor
• Community Specialist teams
• Urgent Care Centre Dr/ Nurse.