Medical unit specialising in streamlined care for older people opened at Bournemouth hospital

The hospital’s new ‘Older Persons’ Assessment Unit’ (OPAU) is based on Ward 26 at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) and opened last week in official celebration of ‘Older People’s Day’, an international day of appreciation for older people.

RBH supports an unusually high number of older patients compared to other acute hospitals in the UK, many of whom arrive at the emergency department with fall injuries, infections and respiratory problems.

Prior to the opening of the new unit, all patients requiring urgent admission to hospital were assessed by urgent care experts in the hospital’s Acute Medical Unit. However, with many older patients having secondary, underlying conditions such as dementia, heart conditions and frailty issues, the Trust recognised the need for a specialist hub where the complex needs of older patients could be assessed quickly.

Now, when older patients are admitted to RBH, they are taken directly to the new OPAU, where complex patient needs can be assessed within two hours and an individual plan of care that caters for underlying conditions can be developed.

The early development of such specialised care plans means patients are placed in the right area for treatment at the right times, streamlining care and increasing its effectiveness by avoiding unnecessary bed moves and supporting patients to be medically fit for discharge sooner.

Michelle Richards, Nursing Lead for the Older Persons’ Assessment Unit at RBH, said: “Research shows that the longer medically fit patients stay in a hospital environment, the more difficult it is for them to return to their lives outside of hospital.

“It isn’t natural for the human body to be subjected to long periods of inactivity. Prolonged bed rest results in muscle wastage, which in turn can reduce independence as patients begin to struggle with muscle weakness. Just 10 days in hospital can lead to the equivalent of 10 years’ worth of muscle ageing in patients more than 80 years old. This is why we were so keen to get OPAU open, so we can give our older patients the best chance possible of returning to their everyday lives and routines as soon as they are well enough to leave us.”

89-year-old Beryl Morrow arrived on the OPAU this week after being admitted through the emergency department. She said: “Everything has moved really quickly, both my treatment and the staff have been wonderful.”

Volunteer on the ward, Terry Aldridge said: “The new OPAU is definitely making a difference and the patients are all in good spirits. The change has been positive and it’s a jolly nice ward.”

To find out more about care for older people at RBCH, please visit www.rbch.nhs.uk.