Norfolk County Council | Relieving Pressure on NHS Beds Through a Partnership

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Introduction

Careline365, a leading provider of personal alarm services, is dedicated to empowering individuals to live independently and safely at home. As part of the Appello Group, we utilise digital home and on-the-go alarms with compassionate support to deliver tailored solutions for personal care. Our partnerships with local authorities and healthcare providers play a vital role in reducing hospital admissions, speeding up hospital discharges, and easing pressure on NHS services. This is demonstrated by our successful collaboration with Norfolk County Council and their assistive technology team, assisting discharged patients from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Challenge

The NHS faces a growing bed crisis, with hospitals such as Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital struggling to discharge patients due to insufficient care facilities in the community. Many patients remain in hospital longer than necessary, with the average wait for discharge in NHS hospitals across the UK standing at 1.3 days.

This bottleneck not only increases the burden on healthcare services but also leads to significant financial strain—each hospital stay is estimated to cost £400 per day, amounting to £5.2 million in daily costs for the NHS. In 2022/23 alone, delayed discharges cost the NHS an estimated £1.8 billion. These challenges are reflected at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where the Norfolk County Council Assistive Technology team arranges home care after discharge, increasing pressure on local health and social care services.

Solution

Careline365 and Norfolk County Council began collaborating in 2020, and our relationship has continued to grow through a close and responsive approach to community needs. Through our partnership, we provide digital and GPS personal alarms, giving Norfolk County Council the means to return patients home safely and reduce the risk of readmission.

The Norfolk Assistive Technology Team assesses the needs of each patient to determine the level of equipment required. Our personal alarms are offered to Norfolk County Council’s referred patients as a specialised offer to further reduce barriers to care. Additionally, any required peripherals are provided free of charge by the Assistive Technology team.

Impact

Our dedicated partnership team ensures that all patients receive their alarms within 24 hours of being referred, allowing them to leave the hospital sooner, freeing up much-needed NHS beds within Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital while ensuring their safety at home. This allows community teams to conduct further assessments in patients' own homes rather than keeping them in hospital wards.

The partnership has proven to be highly effective. Monthly referrals from Norfolk County Council to us have continued to grow since October 2020. As a result, we have supported over 3,000 Norfolk County Council patients referred to us over the past 4–5 years. Communication and collaboration between our teams, the local authority, and healthcare providers are key to making this work. We remain flexible to ensure the partnership benefits everyone involved, especially discharged patients.

Training and Collaboration

We believe in a joint approach that involves close collaboration between all parties. We ensure that Norfolk County Council’s Assistive Technology team is fully trained on our equipment and Alarm Receiving Centre protocols. Additionally, we've hosted healthcare practitioners at our Alarm Receiving Centre to demonstrate our operation.

Strong communication, familiarity, and trust are central to our successful partnership with Norfolk County Council. We are proud of what we've achieved so far, helping the local community and easing the burden on the NHS through efficient, safe, and tailored solutions.

Conclusion

Our partnership with Norfolk County Council and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has proven to be of assistance to their bed crisis. By offering next-day delivery for personal alarms and providing flexible, cost-effective packages, we help patients return home safely and ease the burden on hospitals. The success of this collaboration is evident in the increasing number of referrals and the trust built between our teams. Together, we continue to provide peace of mind and support for patients, ensuring they receive the care they need while at home.

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