Enhanced Support to Care Homes

This service would be linked to be delivered conjointly with an existing service contract which ends on31stMarch 2020 but has the provision for an extension of up to 2 years to 31st March 2022.

Merton Practices have been providing the best care they can to these patients within current contractual limitations. However, it is recognised that looking after this vulnerable, frail and complex group of patients takes considerable time and resources.

The purpose of this service is to co-design and mobilise a model of care that will improve the health and well-being of Merton registered patients in care homes. This will be achieved through the delivery of proactive coordinated enhanced primary care services which will engage patients, staff and other providers.

The elements of the service to be provided are:

• Additional primary care input - to achieve robust, high quality and equitable primary care support for care home residents.

This would involve the delivery of a holistic model of care developed in Merton.

• Project management - to support improved integration of services supporting care homes across the health and social care.

The service aims to achieve the following objectives:

• To provide preventive, proactive, coordinated, holistic and patient centred care.
• To offer education, advice and support to improve outcomes for care home residents.
• To achieve a reduction in LAS call-outs and conveyances, A&E attendances, emergency admissions and length of stay.
• To improve the experience of residents, care home staff and health professionals, addressing any health inequalities.
• To enhance governance and assurance processes to drive quality improvement.