Giving elderly patients the confidence to go home from hospital – The Firs celebrates first birthday
This month sees The Firs at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, part of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, celebrate its first birthday.
The Firs is a specially designed step down unit for older patients, which provides rehabilitation in a less formal setting than the hospital, focussed on enabling elderly patients to become more mobile, independent and confident with daily tasks. Patients at the Firs are given special individual plans to help make the most of their time there and to give them back all the tools they need to successfully leave the unit.
The nursing staff at The Firs are part of a multi-disciplinary team, including hospital consultants, GP’s, therapists, dieticians, social workers and discharge coordinators, all working to make sure that patients leaving the Firs are confident in their ability to successfully leave hospital and enjoy being back at home.
The celebration was organised by ward manager Claire Eastick and The Firs staff, and included cakes for patients, staff and guests and a raffle. Claire is pictured with one of the Firs current residents, cutting the birthday cake.
Since opening its doors in August 2011, until the end of June this year, 356 patients have stayed in The Firs, with the average stay around 11 days. The majority of patients are successfully supported to be discharged home.
_295x0.jpg)
