Introduction:

Rapid response is a service that aims to offer an alternative choice of treatment or care for patients who attend A&E or EAU (elderly assessment unit) departments, who have urgent nursing needs or health problems and do not need admission to a hospital ward.
The service provided by rapid response is complementary to that of the primary health care team and is an extension of the district nursing service. It provides extra care above the normal community service and is available for up to 48 hours. Rapid response can also provide equipment that may be needed to keep a patient in their home e.g. commodes, walking frames etc.

What are the referral criteria?

• The patient must be a Manchester resident.
• Maternity, acute psychiatric and paediatric patients cannot be referred.
• The patient and/or carer must agree to and consent to the service. This point is very important as often patients or carers will refuse the service due to not understanding what is entailed.
• One or more of the following criteria should be satisfied by the patient:
  • People who need short term nursing care / support in a crisis situation until a long term plan of care can be established.
    People who are ill and whose nursing needs are over and above what normal district nursing services can offer.
  • People whose main carer, for whatever reason, can no longer provide care to a highly dependent patient. The service gives time for a full assessment of need and an appropriate placement or package of care.
  • People who need an urgent nursing assessment in the community following an assessment at A&E or EAU.
• The patient must be medically stable and not require a hospital admission.
• Referrals for social care must have a medical background.
• The patient must have a telephone in their house. (A mobile phone may be available from the contact centre).

Who can refer to the service?

• Patient’s GP provided that the patient has been seen by their GP in the previous 24 hours.
• A&E department
• EAU (elderly assessment unit).
• District nurses.

How to refer.

Fill out a Contact Assessment Form (appendix g)