Establishing a hospital healthcare team in a District General Hospital – transforming a model into a reality
ISSN: 1460-8790
Article publication date: 15 February 2019
Issue publication date: 8 March 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The authors’ interest in the discharge of patients with no fixed abode (NFA) arose through repeatedly seeing patients discharged back to the streets. In 2017, the Royal United Hospital (RUH) treated 155 separate individuals with NFA, making up 194 admissions. Given these numbers, the best practice according to Inclusion Health’s tiered approach to secondary care services suggests that the hospital should be providing a dedicated housing officer and a coordinated discharge pathway. As this is currently lacking, the purpose of this paper is to establish a Homeless Healthcare Team (HHT) and design a hospital protocol for the discharge of NFA patients with strong links into community support.
Design/methodology/approach
The literature review identified six elements that make up a successful HHT, which has provided the structure for the implementation of the authors’ model at the RUH.
Findings
Along the way, the authors have faced a number of challenges whilst attempting to transform the model into a reality, including: securing funding; allocating responsibility; balancing conflicting priorities; coordinating schedules; developing staff knowledge and challenging prejudice. The authors are now working collaboratively with invested parties from the third sector, specialist primary and secondary care health services and local government to overcome these barriers and work towards the long-term goals.
Originality/value
Scarce literature exists on the practicalities of attempting to set up an HHT in a District General Hospital. The authors hope that the documentation of the authors’ experience will encourage others to broaden their horizons and persist through the challenges that arise.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors’ thanks go to Dr Pippa Metcalf who has been a great encouragement and support throughout the journey in establishing an HHT at the RUH, without her this project would not have got off the ground. The authors would also like to thank Chris Sargeant for his time, direction and advice. Finally, a massive thank you to the team at DHI, namely, David Walton, Chris Hussey and Nik Brown for their crucial input in securing a bid and the time they have invested to make this idea a reality.
Citation
Glennerster, R.I. and Sales, K. (2019), "Establishing a hospital healthcare team in a District General Hospital – transforming a model into a reality", Housing, Care and Support, Vol. 22 No. 1, pp. 65-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/HCS-09-2018-0022
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited