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Urgent Care Team (west Kent)

Nursing and rehabilitation care provided to people in their homes to prevent them going into hospital unnecessarily. West Kent only.

Contact us

Urgent Care Team
0300 123 4082
01732 376858

Who we are

The Urgent Care Team is a nurse led service in west Kent, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

What we do

We provide a crisis response nursing service with a two hour, four hour or 24 hour response to referrals. Telephone triage determines the priority of visits. The service aims to: avoid unnecessary hospital admissions; support hospital discharges; and provide unscheduled nursing care out of hours, including management for patients at the end of their life.

The team comprises a Team Lead Coordinator, a Quality Lead, Registered Nurses, Assistant Practitioners, and Health Care Assistants.

We work closely with other KCHFT community services, including the West Kent Urgent Care Home Treatment Service, Community Rehabilitation Team Therapists, Community Nursing Teams, Complex Care Nurses and Health and Social Care Coordinators.

We work closely with colleagues from the acute trust (Therapy Assisted Discharge Service) and Kent Enablement at Home (social services) to ensure that patients are receiving the right care at the right time from the most appropriate service provider, enabling them to remain in their own homes safely.

Clinical interventions include: IV Therapy, End of Life Care, symptom management, wound care, pressure ulcer management bladder and bowel care. The team can also facilitate admission to one of our community hospitals for a patient requiring rehabilitation.

As a short-term service, we provide care for a maximum of seven days. However, on discharge from the service, patients will be referred on for long-term support, as required via health, social and voluntary sectors.

How do I refer to this service?

Referrals should be made through the Local Referral Unit (LRU) by secure email.

0300 123 1950
kcht.lruwestkent@nhs.net

Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Out of hours

Please call 0300 123 1950, and your call will be diverted to the Urgent Care Team Leader.

Your comments

April 2023

Providing support to my husband and whole family, when we needed it the most. Providing compassionate care and company to the whole family. (Rapid Response)

April 2023

Everyone kind, caring, punctual, friendly and professional. (Hospital at home)

April 2023

Good experience overall. Felt relaxed and content and reassured. (Hospital at home)

April 2023

Outstanding, professional and caring support service - thank you. Nothing was too much trouble; highly efficient. I would specifically like to thank, Rosanna, Cee, Esther, Nicole and Sofia for my excellent, excellent care. (Hospital at home)

April 2023

The girls were brilliant, very friendly and efficient. They helped tremendously and showed care and dignity towards my husband. (Rapid Responsse)

April 2023

Everything has been fantastic. 10/10. This is the second time round for me using the service and again I have found it to be excellent. (Hospital at home)

March 2023

Fantastic nurses, always happy, positive and on time. (Hospital at Home)

March 2023

The level of care for me has been great and very reassuring. I have been so impressed and so very grateful to all of the team. (Hospital at Home)

March 2023

I found all of the nurses perfect, service is great. (Rapid Response)

March 2023

The nurses are all very proficient and friendly. (Hospital at Home)

March 2023

The nurses were excellent, caring, knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble. All were a credit to the NHS. (Hospital at Home)

March 2023

The kindness and the professional people which made me feel a lot safer and at ease. (Rapid Response)

January 2023

Very impressed with the service provided. Thank you Claire for your assistance and guidance with my catheter, very helpful. (Rapid Response service)

January 2023

Totally professional nurses- explaining everything - absolute treasures - everyone of them. Wonderful. (Rapid Response service)

January 2023

Very caring, friendly and look after my husband very well. (Rapid Response service)

June 2022

Leo, Sarah and Claire have brightened up my day.

June 2022

The staff were very involved and caring and supportive.

June 2022

Very kind and extremely helpful. Their help was invaluable.

May 2022

Everyone has been brilliant, kind and compassionate in this difficult time for us. Anna and Cat were able to answer our questions.

May 2022

I have had excellent treatment and care from all of your wonderful nurses. May I congratulate you on a superb service.

March 2022

All the nurses we have seen have been very helpful, attentive and kind.

April 2022

Staff were kind and understanding at all times.

March 2022

Your staff were very friendly, efficient and informative. They were always ready to explain any questions we had. Their treatment was always carried out to the highest standards.

February 2022

All very kind and supportive.

February 2022

Excellent team, very polite and responsible. I am very pleased with the service I have received.

February 2022

Very efficient, kind nurses.

January 2022

Quick response very pleased with all support I've received.

December 2021

The nurses are professional, friendly and willing to help us anyway they can. I would not be able to manage without their help.

January 2022

Friendly and caring. After visit my mother always looked comfortable and relaxed.

December 2021

Good to us, gave us respect and dignity.

November 2021

Always kind and smile on face.

November 2021

Very caring, attentive, very helpful and polite I am gratefuly truly.

October 2021

The care provided has been fantastic and the attention to detail by the staff is good.

October 2021

Staff very attentive, always answered phone, never made me feel rushed.

November 2022

Lots of helpful advice with other services available. Also, very reassuring and friendly.

November 2022

Every contact was friendly, very, very helpful and everyone had an excellent knowledge of my condition. Sincere thanks.

November 2022

Every nurse was very professional, lovely, friendly and gave me all the information I needed. I couldn't have asked for better care.

October 2022

The nurse was so very kind and patient. He explained everything he was doing and discussed future care. Was really kind to my mother, aged 90.

October 2022

The very best thing was how extremely kind they all were.

September 2022

Nurses all very pleasant, helpful and well trained.

October 2022

Extremely efficient, bright and cheerful. Reassuring.

September 2022

Lovely nurses - always kept me informed and answered my questions.

August 2022

Very informative and very kind.

July 2022

Reliable and professional staff- can't fault them. At home care way better than hospital. Knowledgeable and efficient.

July 2022

Staff always cheerful and nothing is too much trouble. Very grateful for everything.

July 2022

Friendly, efficient, reassuring, professional and how wonderful it was to have it in the home.

August 2021

Marvellous people, never had that much attention. Very caring.

September 2021

Found the team very caring. Informative and made Mum feel calm.

September 2021

So caring & understanding and put my mind at rest.

September 2021

Having use of the service has made me feel much happier.

October 2021

Staff very attentive, always answered phone, never made me feel rushed

October 2021

Made me feel comfortable and at ease.

October 2021

They were very efficient, friendly and explained to us exactly what was happening, why they had made the decision of what was to be done.

October 2021

Everyone has give excellent service in a friendly manner.

May 2021

Very grateful, all was very kind and supportive. Great service.

June 2021

Staff were very kind and helped with everything.

June 2021

The nurses who visited were lovely and helped every day.

June 2021

Nice people to talk to - makes me feel better after visit.

June 2021

The nurses were all polite, cheerful and helpful.

July 2021

The support from Rapid Response has been fantastic. They are very responsive and supportive.

July 2021

They have all be really good too me. They have helped and supported me to keep my independence.

August 2021

Every member of the Rapid Response team were extremely polite, helpful and very friendly. Always having a smile. Kept us fully informed and put us at ease. Very professional at all times. We are very grateful.

August 2021

The nurses were very polite and hard working. They answered all our questions with great answers and were honest.

January 2021

Very grateful to all the team in the support they gave my mother.

February 2021

Nurses did everything required and were very appreciated at a time when help was much needed.

February 2021

Tonbridge Rapid Response stepped into to help care for our Dad, they were responsive to our father's needs.

March 2021

Brilliant people and service, helped me a lot. thank you not enough.

April 2021

The team were reliable, helpful and friendly. They were caring and always available.

April 2021

The experience was very smooth, the nurses were very helpful and polite.

May 2021

My wife and I were overwhelmed by the kindness and friendship of all the staff who visited us. We thank them all - Johanna, Roxy, Jackie, Annamarie and Kate.

May 2021

The service was amazing and couldn't be faulted.

October 2020

Excellent services. Nurses very pleasant and helpful.

October 2020

Excellent service, extremely happy with staff. They are all very polite and it was uplifting to have their visit.

October 2020

Absolutely wonderful service. I was very well cared for.

November 2020

Staff were very kind considerate, patient and very understanding of my mother's care needs.

November 2020

You were there in my hour of need. Thank you so very much.

November 2020

All the nurses were very kind and professional.

December 2020

Everyone was caring and patient.

December 2020

The nurses were very kind and helpful.

July 2020

Godsend without your service we wouldn't have been able to cope.

July 2020

Staff are very kind, respectful and supportive. Thank you all.

July 2020

The service has been amazing. To receive treatment at home has helped me enormously and staff are incredible. Thank you.

August 2020

Everyone that visited was very kind, hardworking and respectful. We all say thank you.

August 2020

Everyone has been very professional, kind, patient, caring and willing to speak to us and listen to our concerns.

September 2020

kind, respectful and extremely supportive.

September 2020

All I am is thankful, the service was very helpful, without your help and assistant, I don't know how we can cope.

March 2020

Staff are very good. Always inform and update. (Home First service)

March 2020
Maidstone

My daughter said it was a fantastic services. All nurses and doctors were amazing, giving very good advice. (Home First service)

July 2019
Tonbridge

The staff was lovely, kind and supportive. Night time RN was so reassuring. A very helpful service.

Mar-19
Tonbridge

Extremely caring, happy and a joy to spend time with. Made coming home from hospital all the more happy. Two very delightful people.

June 2019
Maidstone

They were very good, supportive and understanding to my needs.

February 2019
Tonbridge

Rapid Response team was very helpful with my mother. Very reassuring that this support is so quickly available in times of crisis.

February 2019
Tonbridge

Satisfied with the service. Reassured by not needing to go to acute hospital.

January 2019
Tonbridge

Just so thankful forthe service. Had been going to the G.P. dad's GP and mine for help. It wasn't until the referral was made to Rapid that it all moved forward.

January 2019
Tonbidge

Thank you to all you lovely people.

January 2019
Tonbrige

Rapid really helped, were amazing in a situation where we weren't qualified. I didn't know what to do- he wouldn't go to hospital- we just needed help. In dad's situation not only did they support him, they supported us as well.

June 2018
Tonbridge

Always there when we needed you. A life line when we needed a start with help.

June 2018
Maidstone

I really don't think the Rapid Response service can be improved. It's first class and every member of the team has gone above and beyond. A heartfelt thanks to all.

May 2018
Maidstone

Very happy with the service provided to us. Your staff are fantastic. Look after them.

May 2018
Maidstone

Everything has been first class, cannot fault your service.

April 2018
Tonbridge

All the staff that have visited the home have been caring, attentive, friendly and extremely professional.

April 2018
Tonbridge

Perfect service.

April 2018
Tonbridge

They are always quick to come out and assist my wife. They always friendly and helpful, treating both me and my wife with respect.

April 2018
Tonbridge

We were so impressed with their service. Checking my needs before everything else. Way beyond my expectations. Truly brilliant.

April 2018
Maidstone

Kind and cheerful.

March 2018
Tonbridge

I have been so impressed by the quality of care. Thank you all so much.

February 2018
Tonbridge

These are my dads words; he would highly recommend Rapid Response. They made me feel very safe, in my own home the way they all looked after me,a wonderful team of people very good at what they do.

February 2018
Maidstone

I have been very impressed with how efficiently this service has been run.

February 2018
Maidstone

Feel supported, they know what they are doing.

January 2018
Tonbridge

I just could not fault your service. Everyone that has come to take of my needs has been friendly and very professional.

December 2016
Maidstone

Very polite and professional.