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Home First

Home First is a new scheme for Kent that is helping patients in our hospitals get home sooner.

Hundreds of patients across Kent are now receiving care at home who would normally have stayed in hospital, thanks to Home First.

Under Home First, hospital staff work closely with colleagues in the community and in social care to plan for a patient to return home from the first day they arrive.

Some patients, may not need any help when they get home, but for those who do, Home First teams are triggered into action on discharge to make sure the right support is in place.

What does the Home First Team do?

Patients are seen at home within hours and receive an assessment by a Home First Team, made up of community nurses, therapists and social care professionals. Every patient has a personal care plan and this may include therapy, goals, support for carers, any equipment they may need and self-help advice.

 

What if the patient needs more support before going home?

For patients who are unable to manage at home, short-term rehabilitation is provided in a community hospital. For example, in west Kent, patients are rehabilitated in an eight-bed therapy ward at Tonbridge Cottage Hospital.

Some people have complex needs and need longer-term care. We provide a robust assessment, before coming to a decision, with them and their families, to move them to longer-term residential care or continuing healthcare.

Where possible, we also assess patients in the community and provide appropriate care to avoid people going into the hospital at all.

 

Who is involved?

Home First relies on Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and Kent County Council, working more closely together, as well as involving our voluntary and community sector partners more effectively.

Lesley Strong, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive KCHFT, said: “When you are really sick, hospital is the best place you can be, but once you no longer need hospital care, you recover much faster at home.

“The longer someone spends in a hospital bed, the more muscle they lose and the weaker they can become, which makes it harder for them to regain their independence. so, as soon as they no longer need hospital care, we want to get them home.

“For patients who need short-term support, we know assessing them in their own environment is best to see how they are coping and what extra support they might need.

“By working closely together with our acute and social care colleagues and involving the support of our voluntary and community sector partners, we can make sure patients, families and carers are properly supported at home to help them or their loved one recover quickly. This scheme will also help to free up vital hospital beds for people who really need them.”

Janice Duff, Kent County Council’s Assistant Director for Older People and Physical Disability, said: “We have increase the support available from social care and are working closely with our colleagues in health to provide a seamless approach to getting people home and supporting them back to independence.”

Contact details

East Kent
0300 123 4415 (patients)
kcht.canterburyLRU@nhs.net

West Kent
0300 123 1644

For more useful contacts please see the Home First leaflets.

Your comments

June 2022

Visits on time. Lovely team of nurses, extremely caring. (Hospital@Home)

May 2022

She was so helpful, nothing was too much trouble. I looked forward to her coming. (MDT Therapy Team)

March 2022

It's a brilliant service provided by a dedicated team. It's a credit to the NHS and to each individual nurse. (Hospital@Home)

February 2022

Sophie was so kind. She helped me a lot. I can get in the bath now. (MDT Therapy Team)

January 2022

Excellent. Felt well looked after. Felt involved with treatment. (Hospital@Home)

December 2021

Praveen wa so kind, caring and thoughtful, he couldn't do enough for us. I can't fault him. (MDT Therapy Team)

November 2021

Having been visited and having continued care. Found service comfortable. (Hospital@Home)

November 2021

Everything has been fantastic and competent staff. (Hospital@Home)

October 2021

The service has been exemplary and greatly helped my mental health, as I didn't have to attend the hospital every day and actually managed to stay in my home for a month's break. (Hospital@Home)

October 2021

Wonderful, so helpful, cannot thank them enough. (MDT Therapy Team)

August 2021

The team was amazing the whole time they visited my home. (Hospital@Home)

September 2021

Physio was lovely, she helped dad lots to build confidence again. (Therapy Team)

September 2021

They were fantastic, it could not been better. (Therapy Team)

October 2021

Keep doing everything you do, as it's a fantastic service. I cannot thank you enough for all your care and support over the last month. Well done. (Hospital@Home)

October 2021

The nurses were all friendly and most efficient, answering all my queries very thoroughly and clearly, which always gave me confidence. (Hospital@Home)

October 2021

All seemed to go smoothly, made everything good for me, very ideal for all my requirement, certainly made getting better easier. (Pathway 3)

May 2021

Good to have a contact physio to speak to with concerns about mum, someone on the phone to ask questions to to offer support. (Therapy Team)

May 2021

The lady was very helpful and very informative. Everything was explained well. (Therapy Team)

May 2021

The team was on time, helpful and professional. Never worried about the treatment. (Hospital@Home)

June 2021

The staff were friendly and helpful. (Therapy Team)

June 2021

Thorough, helpful and easy to speak to someone. (Therapy Team)

July 2021

Really helped me to be able to get outside and feel confident with my stairs. (Therapy Team)

July 2021

The Physiotherapist was a great help to my husband and me, and very kind. (Therapy Team)

August 2021

The team have been absolutely fantastic, cannot praise them all enough. I would like to thank all your team for their kindness and support throughout my treatment. (Hospital@Home)

August 2021

Everything explained to me. Made me feel comfortable before any procedures. (Therapy Team)

January 2021

Everyone was so kind and helpful. (Therapy Team)

February 2021

Excellent communication. Helped my father and us to feel supported during the difficult time. (Therapy Team)

February 2021

Very caring, very friendly. Physiotherapist was excellent. (Therapy Team)

March 2021

Always had lots of time to listen to my problems . A friendly face during a difficult time . Physio very friendly and kind. (Therapy Team)

March 2021

The staff were very friendly and caring. Doris was a supper star, she was awesome. (Hospital@Home)

April 2021

Very supportive staff on phone and during visits. Very good communication. (Hospital@Home)

April 2021

They have been so supportive and kind. I cannot thank them enough. (Hospital@Home)

April 2021

They are polite and friendly and very professional in their job. They interacted with me on a very friendly level putting me at ease. (Hospital@Home)

May 2021

Staff have all been amazing, I am very lucky to have been under their care. (Hospital@Home)

July 2020

Wonderful personal and professional service. Outstanding. (Hospital@Home)

July 2020

It saves my son from being in the hospital and the nurses are very good. My son has severe learning disabilities and he is much better in a home environment. (Hopsital@Home)

July 2020

The service is a superb service and stopped me having to go into hospital at a very difficult time. (Hospital@Home)

August 2020

The team of Nurses were so kind and respectful. We looked forward to their daily visits. (Hospital@Home)

November 2020

Service was very good. The staff where kind and attentive. (Hospital@Home)

November 2020

Always on time, pleasant and courteous very understanding to needs. (Hospital@Home)

December 2020

The team was very kind and considerate at all times. It was a joy to meet you all. Many thanks. (Hospital@Home)

December 2020

Very prompt at getting equipment and good follow up. (Therapy Team)

January 2021

The service was faultless. From the moment of the meeting everybody made contact and visited quickly. Very prompt and professional. (Therapy Team)

June 2020
 Hospital at Home - West Kent

The planning for my home care was efficient while in Pembury Hospital and the nurse turned up the next morning. Everything was organised from then onwards with staff from 'Hospital at Home' working together with their doctors to monitor my health and taken necessary action. The nurses were all wonderful.

June 2020
Rapid Response - Tonbridge

You people are very good to me. Thank you all.

June 2020
Intermediate Care - Tonbridge

(Staff name) gave patient walking stick which he likes and uses, 4 wheeled walker was handy. (Staff name) was great, very kind, helpful, clear and gave us lots of information. Shower chair was brilliant. I am very pleased with the attention given and the leaflets. Wonderful service.

June 2020
Intermediate Care - Coxheath, West Kent

It was good as the Physio was able to assess me in my home environment and see for themselves how I function in my own environment. As far as I am concerned it worked well for me.

June 2020
 CNRT - Sevenoaks, West Kent

(Staff names) have looked after me well. They came with shoe protectors as well as aprons and gloves. Felt very protected from Covid 19. Feel very well looked after.

June 2020
 Hospital at Home - West Kent

This service has been utterly amazing, all the staff I seen have been extremely professional and caring and always put me first.I would like to say a special thank you to (staff names) who I saw several times during my care.

May 2020
Home Treatment Service

Very personable and professional.

May 2020
Rapid Response - Tonbridge

You have all been amazing looking after my husband.

May 2020
CNRT - Coxheath, West Kent

The team have been very helpful, supportive and efficient, setting good goals to aim for.

May 2020
Rapid Response - Maidstone

The nurses have been fantastic taking care of my mum and are very friendly.

May 2020
Home Treatment Service

Excellent service. Knowledgable doctors. Terrific nurses. Great treatment. All promblems with my health were treated. Blood test was explained to me. Great service. I'm never going into the hospital.

April 2020
Home Treatment Service

Quick response, very thorough examination and discussion of the options. Very personable doctor and nurse.

April 2020
Intermediate Care - Tonbridge

(Staff name) is very friendly. I was explained things very clearly and received answeres to all my questions with added information. Bathroom was checked very carefully. It was good to have a conversation with (staff name). Good eye contact all the time.

April 2020
Intermediate Care - Coxheath

Unfortunately due to Corona virus crisis I was unable to receive ongoing physio at the Coxheath clinic, but appreciated the help I received. Very professional, helpful and answered fully all my questions.

April 2020
CNRT, Coxheath

I felt that everything was explained really well and with help from (staff name), I was able to do more. This gave me confidence with what I was doing and helped me with what I needed to do.

April 2020
Hospital @Home

I want to give my 100% appreciation for the support I received

March 2020

Staff are very good. Always inform and update. (Pathway 3)

March 2020
Coxheath

Kind and cheerful explaining and demonstrating equipment.Very helpful, posting literature and articles to read about disability. (Intermediate Care)

March 2020
West Kent

They explained everything clearly and made me feel at ease. Lovely doctors and nurses. (Home Treatment service)

March 2020
Maidstone

Daughter said it was a fantastic services. All nurses and doctors were amazing, giving very good advice. (Rapid Response)

March 2020
Coxheath

I came to the group very nervous and unsure, I always expected the worse but coming here I felt welcome. I found staff friendly and easy to approach. (Intermediate Care)

March 2020
West Kent

They made me feel safe and looked after. The care was excellent. Thank you Hospital at Home.

March 2020
Coxheath

(Staff name) Occupatianl Therapist has been absolutely marvellous in assisting us with my husband's replacement hospital bed. She arranged everything to make it as stress free as possible for him as he has no mobility at present.

February 2020
 Intermediate Care - Tonbridge

The team were very friendly and helpful - 10 out of 10 in my opinion.

February 2020
West Kent

This service is amazing. I felt as I was going backwards in hospital once, past the critical stage, and it has been so much easier to recover at home with peaceful sleep cooking my food etc being with family. The nurses were all excellent. So I felt very safe. I had very good communication with my consultant.

February 2020
Rapid Response Service - Maidstone

Survey completed with patient's husband. While RR nurses were visiting, the husband was taken unwell. Nurses helped and waited with his wife until he was taken to the hospital and ensured his wife that he was looked after.

February 2020
Intermediate Care - Tonbridge

(Staff name) was a real help and wealth of information. She was kind, encouraging and knowledgable. She treated me with respect and listened to my opinion. She is a real asset to you. Now I have what I need to keep me safe and well in my own home.

February 2020
CNRT - Coxheath, West Kent

I can't believe the care and attention I have received from(staff names).They continue to teach me every time I see them and they are helping me feel more confident with what I am doing. (Staff name) have really helped me get all the bits and pieces delivered.

January 2020
West Kent

Fantastic hard working team. Thank you so much. All your staff are kind and took a time to explain everything. The nurses and doctors are patient and proffessional, but also very kind. The staff who answer the phone are also so helpful and patient. Thank you for all the help and support you gave to our Mum and us as a family. It is a wonderful service. (Home Treatment Service)

January 2020
West Kent

Very helpful. Available to talk and listened when I rang. I found physio helpful to progress me from walking with zimmer frame to using one stick. I also want to thank (staff name) personally for her support. (Pathway 3)

January 2020
Sevenoaks

Attitiude and approach are very acceptable. (Community Neuro Rehab Team)

December 2019
West Kent

I am happy the way tings have gone and very grateful for what can only be described as an excellent service. (Hospital@Home)

December 2019
Tonbridge

(Staff name) - very helpful, very friendly. Supportive in getting all the necessary equipment for my mother who has had a hip fracture. (Intermediate Care)

December 2019
West Kent

Extremely kind and caring team. (Home Treatment)

December 2019
Sevenoaks

Everything has been dealt with in the questions here - I found everything very helpful and understanding. (CNRT)

December 2019
West Kent

Extremely competent, convenient friendly service. (Hospital@Home)

July 2019
Intermediate Care, Tonbridge

Very impressed with quality of staff.

July 2019
Intermediate Care, Coxheath

They have been very kind and considerate to me. Very, very helpful.

July 2019
Hospital@Home

I was treated with kindness and all the staff were helpful telling me what they were doing. Thank you for all your help.

July 2019
Home Treatment Service

My husband has needed your service on several occasions and has always been treated with great care and attention.

June 2019
Tonbridge and Malling

Information was excellent as was the service.

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