£4.2 million boost for NHS services in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley
12:48, 07 June 2019
updated: 12:48, 07 June 2019
The NHS is investing more than £4 million to improve their home service and take the pressure off hospitals.
In total, £4.2 million will be given to services in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley over the next two years.
Labelled The Local Care programme, it's the fire time that GP's, local authorities, the voluntary sector and health and social care organisations have worked together to transform local services in the area.
It will focus on improving care for older people who may struggle to get to hospitals or have complex health conditions, as well as giving them independence in their own homes.
It will also prevent people being admitted to hospital unnecessarily and mean that they can be discharged sooner when medically fit.
There are six local care teams being set up by GPs across the three areas, as well as an extended team of community navigators, that work by supporting people with other services, such as housing, carers support and benefits.
Housebound patients in the area will be visited by the paramedic-led home visiting service, which allows patients to be seen earlier in the day, rather than waiting around for a doctors appointment.
There will also be an increase in the number patients that the rapid response service can see, thanks to this investment.
The service provides urgent specialist care at the homes of people who suffer with long term conditions.
Dr Sarah MacDermott, of the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: "The new local care programme is very exciting as it gives us an opportunity to work differently and bring about real and lasting improvements to local care for the people of Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley.
“No-one wants to be in hospital for longer than necessary, we know that people recover more quickly when they are at home, and we are committed to providing the best possible outcomes and experience for patients.
"It’s also a great example of how health and social care partners are working together to put patients at the heart of the service.”
It comes months after a survey was sent out asking people for their opinions on whether a new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) should move to Dartford or Gravesend.
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