RCN welcomes new home care guide

Published: 26 October 2012

The Royal College of Nursing today welcomed the launch of a new cross sector guide which highlights the important role of housing in supporting an independent and healthy later life.

The Hospital 2 Home resource pack provides essential information for people working in a range of sectors such as health, housing, social care and the voluntary sector to improve collaboration and support networks for older patients who are being discharged from hospital.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive and General Secretary, said: “Caring for our older people is one of the biggest and most critical issues facing health care.

“The RCN has worked hard to highlight the importance of staffing in order to maintain a safe level of care in older people’s wards, but there is also work to do to ensure older people are properly cared for at home to allow patients to be treated there where possible.

“This pack should go some way to improving knowledge and will allow everyone involved in hospital discharge arrangements to work together and ensure older patients do not have to spend any longer in hospital than they have to.”

The RCN worked on the project with Care & Repair England, the Chartered Institute of Housing, Housing Learning and Improvement Network, the College of Occupational Therapists, British Geriatrics Society, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, British Red Cross, Age UK, Foundations, The Local Government Association, and the King’s Fund.

It was supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department of Health.