Hospital Discharge - support for hospitals with free community alarms

With Hospitals across Hertfordshire facing pressures, Herts Careline is hoping its Hospital Discharge community alarm service is offering some relief to professionals who wish to discharge patients home with support on hand 24/7 to help with their continued recovery.

Herts Careline’s Hospital Discharge services enables us to provide hospitals serving the Hertfordshire community with a package of telecare for patients who are due to be discharged from hospital, to allow them to return home safely and more quickly.

In partnership with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), so far we have provided the Social Care teams at Lister Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and the Early Intervention vehicles at Lister with community alarm and pendant kits which patients can take home free of charge for 6 weeks.

Once at home, the alarm units can be ‘plugged in’ and connected to our 24/7 Control Room. If the person feels unwell they can press the pendant and help is on hand straight away. After the 6 free weeks, which is paid for by HCC, the patient can decide whether to subscribe to the service or return the equipment. Other telecare equipment can be connected to the community alarm device if additional risks are identified.

We’re keen to help other hospitals in the same way so please email CarelineSupport@north-herts.gov.uk if you’d like your hospital to join this system.