John stroke Ownfone
The NRS team ensure on time hospital discharge and patient safety
John was to be discharged from hospital on a Saturday morning. In line with the COVID-19 hospital discharge protocol, this would happen before he had received a full care assessment. As John was suffering with the effects of a stroke and was unable to speak, meaning he would not be able to call for assistance in an emergency. To complicate matters for the NRS team, it was unclear what time John would be home and no way to get access before he arrived.
A telephone referral was made by the Command Centre and it was decided the best cause of action to ensure John’s safety was to deliver an Ownfone to his home which was already fully changed and programmed with his emergency numbers. Instructions would also be delivered alongside the Ownfone, to ensure the care workers knew how to charge it, the importance of John having it on him at all times and for them to remind John how to use it and to carry it around.
As a result of the NRS team’s proactive approach, John’s hospital discharge was not delayed. He was able to return home safely with a strategy and equipment in place which would enable him to call for assistance in the time before his in-depth care assessment.