Home treatment scheme launched

The trust wants fewer tests done in hospitals

Patients in Lincolnshire are to pilot an American style health scheme which could help bring an end to hospital overcrowding.

People will be able to get specialist medical care without going to hospital or be allowed to leave sooner.

It is hoped the scheme, being introduced in the south of the county, will stop so called 'bed-blocking'.

The South West Primary Care Teaching Trust hopes the project will allow older patients and those with chronic disorders to be treated in the community.

Quality care

At the moment many people have to go into hospital for routine checks, test and scans which their GP's are not equipped to provide.

The trust wants to provide far more of these resources provided at home or in the community - what is know as intermediate care.

The trust's Chief Executive, Derek Bray, said: "So we are looking at potentially building some quite large surgeries in Lincolnshire.

"Here the diagnostic element can be done there and then, rather than sending people into hospital and that saves the hospitals time and saves the patients the inconvenience."

He added: "All the evidence is that the quality of care this system provides is very high.

"If we take the example of intermediate care, that is what patients want, as hospitals can be dangerous places, with a risk of infection.

"People don't want to go into hospital if it can be helped, they would rather stay at home and be treated there."