New Service Offers Promise to Reduce Hospital Admissions in Elderly Patients and Cut NHS Costs
A new service designed to assist older individuals who are beginning to experience frailty shows promising results, potentially reducing emergency hospital admissions by more than a third and saving the NHS money. This finding comes from a study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) and published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this new service, which involves six personalized home visits provided by support workers. These tailored sessions aim to identify individual needs to help participants maintain their health and independence. The interventions offered can range from home exercise programs, nutritional support to boost energy levels, mental wellbeing improvements, and increased social connections.
The study involved 388 people over the age of 65 who were assessed as having mild frailty across three regions in the UK (London, Hertfordshire, and Yorkshire). Of these participants, half received the new service while the other half continued with their usual care without additional support. Frailty refers to a condition where individuals are less capable of recovering from health problems, which is common among seniors over 65 and often leads to increased disabilities, hospitalizations, and care needs.
Participants were followed for one year post-intervention. The researchers discovered that those who received the service experienced a 35% decrease in unplanned hospital admissions, resulting in an average savings of £586 per person to the NHS over the study period. This indicates that personalized home-based support could significantly reduce emergency hospitalizations and potentially free up valuable resources.
Professor Kate Walters, lead author of the research from UCL Epidemiology & Health Care, highlighted: “We developed this new service in collaboration with experts, older individuals, and carers to assist people with mild frailty in maintaining their independence for a longer period. Our study shows that tailored interventions can substantially reduce emergency hospital admissions while enhancing overall well-being.” She added that the service didn’t significantly improve self-care independence levels.
Moreover, the research found additional benefits such as slight improvements in wellbeing, psychological distress, and frailty scores among those who received the home-based support. This aligns with Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s pledges to alleviate pressure on hospitals by shifting focus towards community care and prevention strategies.
“The HomeHealth intervention can help older adults with mild frailty stay independent, improving their quality of life and overall well-being while reducing hospital and care costs,” said Andrew Farmer, Director of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme. “By addressing crucial aspects like strength, nutrition, and social engagement, it reduces deterioration and the need for intensive support.”
With adequate funding and support, researchers envision this service becoming available to patients nationwide within two years. Professor Walters concluded: “Investing in preventative measures could allow health services to realize savings elsewhere in the system.” The research was carried out with assistance from Age UK, who played a role in delivering the service during the trial.
