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:
“I do think there is a real risk of distorting the market.
“Already this week, the county council have stepped in to prevent one domiciliary care provider from folding and I know that we are working on over 30 packages of care that have been handed back this week.
“The pressures out there are very tangible.”
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:
“We are absolutely not trying to be critical or trying to take any work away.
“We are just trying to find a solution. We are working well with the team at the county council to work this through rather than doing anything that would upset that.
“We are really aware of the issues, but we are just trying to collectively make it better.”
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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:
“I know there is some concern that we could distort the market because the NHS pays a bit more than other areas, that is an issue.
“But, at the moment, we have said this is a six-month pilot and we will see how it goes.”
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.
Harrogate hospital trust plans home care service to tackle bed blockingHarrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has revealed plans to become the second in the country to launch its own home care service in a bid to free up hospital beds.
Chief executive Jonathan Coulter said the problem of patients staying in hospital longer than they should because of a lack of private care services was the “biggest issue” that the trust currently faces.
Up to 90 patients were medically fit but could not leave Harrogate District Hospital in August, compared to around 20 before the covid pandemic.
The trust now wants to follow in the footsteps of the NHS in Northumbria and start providing care for patients in their own homes.
Russell Nightingale, chief operating officer at the trust, told a board meeting on Wednesday the move was a “huge change and big decision” for the trust, but one it had to take because the problem of bed blocking was “only going to get worse”.
He said:
“If you are in a hospital bed and fit to leave but can’t, it is probably one of the worst places to be.
“In some instances, we have seen a degradation of people’s health in hospital beds when they do not need to be there, despite the great clinical service they receive.
“People want to be in their own homes as this is where they live and are comfortable.”
Mr Nightingale also said he was concerned the current situation would only get worse despite a recent government pledge of £500 million to help people get out of hospitals, which he described as a “drop in the ocean”.
Bed blocking has repeatedly been raised as a concern by hospital bosses who have warned of knock-on impacts on A&E waiting times.
This comes as Harrogate District Hospital has had an exceptionally busy summer and pressure on services is only likely to grow over winter as it tries to tackle long waiting lists and staffing shortages.
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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.
The trust – which already provides home care for some children – has been in dialogue with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust which this year became the first to launch such a scheme.
Some concerns have been raised over the high turnover of staff, as well the impact on the private care sector.
However, Wednesday’s meeting heard that care packages under the Harrogate plans would initially be offered to private care firms for 24 hours before the trust steps in.
More details of the scheme are set to be revealed in the coming weeks.