Northern Care Alliance launches a two-hour urgent community response service in Oldham

29 September 2022

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new two-hour urgent community response (UCR) service in Oldham to help reduce the demand on urgent care services.

UCR teams have been rolled out across the country and the service is helping to improve outcomes for patients whilst taking the pressure off ambulance and hospital services by reducing the need for patients to be admitted to hospital or go see their GP. 

The new two-hour urgent community response (UCR) service is part of a national ageing well project that will work alongside urgent care services to provide a rapid two-hour response to anyone over the age of 18 whose health suddenly deteriorates and requires urgent assistance.

Individuals are now able to access a community crisis response service, delivered in their usual place of residence. The service will operate from 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including bank holidays and will help support individuals with underlying chronic conditions, negating the need for them to be admitted to hospital or travel to see their GP if their condition deteriorates.

The aim behind the service is to provide urgent care to people in their own home, helping avoid admission to hospital and enabling people to live independently for longer. Through these teams, older people and adults with complex health needs who urgently need care, can get fast access to a range of health and social care professionals within two hours.

A multi-disciplinary team of health and social care professionals will triage patients that contact the service and carry out assessments, order tests, diagnose, prescribe and order equipment within 2 hours of referral.

Vicki Elcock, Head of Service for Urgent Care (Adults), explains: “We have a multi-disciplinary team of nurses, Allied Health Professionals and advanced practitioners ready to triage and support individuals experiencing a health or social care crisis.

“We’re here to support people who have had a fall or those individuals who have lost some of their mobility or independence after illness. We can also help individuals with a whole range of other conditions such as diabetes care, catheter care, end of life support and can also provide equipment to help people stay more mobile.

“Most importantly, we’re here to support patients and ensure that they get the help they need quickly and safely. We want to take some of the pressure off our ambulance and hospital services in Oldham and reduce the need for patients to be admitted to hospital or go see their GP. If you’re considering calling an ambulance or going to A&E, please ring us first and if our team can’t help, we’ll ensure that you’re directed to the service that best meets your needs.”

Patients can contact the service themselves by calling 0161 770 6771 or they ask any health or social care professional such as their GP, NHS111, care home or home care provider to refer them to the service.

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