PATHFINDER, a new and intensive therapy project, could see more than 40 elderly patients a year leaving hospitals in the Tunbridge Wells area to go home rather than into residential care.

The scheme, which helps to free up much-needed beds and ease pressure on waiting lists, has been piloted at Pembury Hospital to help pensioners live independently after a spell as in-patients. A full review is expected shortly, which should lead to it being extended to patients at the Kent and Sussex Hospital at Tunbridge Wells.

The scheme has been set up by the South West Kent Primary Care Trust, High Weald Housing, Kent County Council social services and the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Currently, it is only available to elderly patients who live in Tunbridge Wells and who are registered with a local GP. A patient due for discharge has his or her physical abilities assessed by a physiotherapist or occupational therapist, and if suitable is put on the Pathfinder scheme for intensive rehabilitation.

The scheme has three stages, starting with eight weeks of therapy at home and including a night-sitting service during the early weeks if necessary. Then follows up to six weeks of less intensive support, and finally the patient is given up to 38 weeks of domestic input only. The cost of these latter stages is met by the county council.

Maggie Pauling, head of physiotherapy for South West Kent PCT, said the project was working well and would soon be rolled out to include patients living in Sevenoaks.

Praising the project team she said: "Everyone is very positive, self-motivating and innovative, as well as being wonderful advocates for the patients."

Caroline Frizelle, a discharge co-ordinator for the NHS Trust, said the scheme was helping to release pressure on waiting lists.

She said: "We're treating more patients than ever before, and our problem comes when we need to admit patients and we struggle to get them onto a ward.

"Currently we have some 20 to 25 patients waiting in our hospitals for residential or nursing placements, which means we cannot use those beds. This has a knock-on effect on our waiting lists because we cannot bring in as many patients as we would like for routine operations.

"We are always looking at different ways of working which will help free up beds and assist elderly people to return home or to somewhere where they can live or be cared for appropriately."