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28
Nov 2022
Risk that Harrogate hospital home care service could 'distort the market'
A plan by Harrogate hospital to introduce a home care service in a bid to free up bed space could “distort the market”, says a councillor.
Cllr Michael Harrison, who is cabinet member for adult care at North Yorkshire County Council, said the authority had already had to prevent one social care provider from folding this week.
It comes as officials at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust revealed in September that they want to trial the service as the hospital was unable to discharge medically fit patients because of a lack of private care services.
However, Cllr Harrison told the county council's Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee last week that there was a risk the move could cause problems because the health service would be competing for staff with other providers.
Cllr Harrison said:
Jonathan Coulter, chief executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, speaking at Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee.
Jonathan Coulter, chief executive of the hospital trust, said it was not the intention for the hospital to take work away from private care providers.
He added that he was aware the move could look critical of the care sector, particularly because the health service has been “well funded for some years”.
He said:
Read more:
- Harrogate hospital plans new £14m operating theatres
- Harrogate hospital trust plans home care service to tackle bed blocking
Mr Coulter added the hospital was already carrying out interviews for the service, but stressed that it would still be a pilot at this stage.
He said:
The trust’s home care service will initially run as a six-month trial and cost around £146,000 to provide care for 36 patients.
If the trial is a success, it is estimated around 15 patients who otherwise would be stuck in hospital could be moved back into their own homes each day.
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