This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Somerset pilot scheme puts social care worker in A&E
A pioneering pilot scheme to help ease the pressures on NHS resources this winter is being spearheaded by Somerset County Council and local NHS partners.
The trial, due to begin in soon, will see the authority base a social worker in the A&E departments at the county’s two major hospitals – Musgrove Park in Taunton and Yeovil Hospital – so that social care expertise is immediately available in A&E when needed.
The social worker presence will help A&E staff get a better understanding of the support that social care may be able to offer, especially considering that some of the people who go to A&E don’t need urgent medical care but go there because they are not sure where else to turn in a crisis.
Somerset County Council is also looking to trial having a social worker based at the South Western Ambulance Service control centre to see if this too can relieve some of the winter pressures. People sometimes call 999 for an ambulance when a social care or mental health response would be more appropriate.
David Huxtable, cabinet member for Adult Services, said: “The winter period is always a busy time one for our hospitals and A&E in particular. As health and social care work closer and closer together, we’re always looking for ways in which we can help people get the right support as quickly as possible. We think that a social care presence in Somerset’s A&E could give people the right support and advice immediately, as well as freeing up capacity for health staff to deal with the urgent admissions.”
The initiative builds on two projects already up and running in Somerset – Rapid Response and Home First – where the county council and the NHS are working in partnership.
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