1. LIVINGSTONE ASHFORD UNIT BECCLES & DISTRICT WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
KAREN THOMSON TD RGN
SERVICE MANAGER
WAVENEY PRIMARY CARE TRUST

2. Beccles & District War Memorial Hospital Patrick Stead Hospital
Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
LOWESTOFT
James Paget Hospital
A146
BECCLES
Beccles & District War Memorial Hospital
BUNGAY
A144
KESSINGLAND
A12
HALESWORTH
Patrick Stead Hospital
SOUTHWOLD
Southwold Hospital
B1123
WALBERSWICK
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

3. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
In the three South Waveney Community Hospitals, during the financial year April 2000:
A monthly average of fourteen delayed
discharges
Majority of which result from insufficient,
suitable residential or nursing home vacancies
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

4. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
‘Step Down’ Beds for patients who:-
Identified as fit for discharge
No longer required specialist health care
input of medical staff, nurses or therapists
Awaiting discharge to a residential home or
their own home environment
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

5. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

6. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
What did we hope to achieve?
A reduction in numbers of delayed discharges
Length of stay would be days
Residents final choice of destination made by forward planning
in consultation with resident, family members and Community
Social Care Assessor
Enable and facilitate the resident to maximise their
independence with day to day living skills and personal care
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

7. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
How did we go about it?
A proposal between Local Health Partnerships NHS Trust and Suffolk Social Services
Resources were established
Staff recruitment commenced Nov/Dec 2000
Ward prepared for admissions Nov 2000
Plans for closure of unit Nov 2000
Joint Health / Social Services specification Nov 2000
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

8. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
Service specifications communicated
to all Stakeholders Dec 2000
‘Step Down’ Facility Opens Jan 2001
Monitoring of service Jan - Mar 2001
Formal evaluation Feb - Mar 2001
Closure of facility st March 2001
Prior to the first admission staff had three days induction
involving Moving and Handling, Health & Safety, Health &
Hygiene
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

9. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
What helped?
Team Working
Established Practices
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

10. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
What hindered?
Funding initially for three months over the winter period
Staff had to be recruited and selected for this period only
Extension of service short term
Implications for forward planning and specifying clear, set,
timely objectives and goals for the unit
Permanent funding
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

11. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
What does the service offer?
Social care, physical and mental stimulation in a homely
environment
Reduction in number of delayed discharges in acute and
intermediate care beds
Enhancement of joint working between James Paget
Hospital, Community Hospital and Social Services
Single sex occupancy, as it is a Nightingale style ward
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

12. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

13. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
What does the service offer?
Social care with health care
Medical care provided through general medical services.
Admissions through the Co-ordinator working in
partnership
Removal from an ill health environment to a relaxed
homely environment
Time for reflection
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

14. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
Self determination & choice regarding day to day living
A safe, non-rigid environment where resident is
empowered to participate in their days structure
A model which is furnished and decorated towards a
residential setting
Colourful murals throughout bathroom / toilet areas.
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

15. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

16. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
A personal Key worker to monitor, review and consult
on ongoing care needs and development.
The opportunity to change pre made decisions
Families and carers encouraged to work alongside staff
Identification of adaptations and equipment that enables
maintaining independence with day to day living skills
The opportunity for planned trial periods within their
home environment, prior to discharge
Key worker visits resident at home one month after discharge
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

17. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
Benefits to the organisation:
Releases beds hospitals for those who have nursing needs
Cost effective
User led service
A social model that sits well within a health setting
Promotes / maintains joint working and multi-disciplinary teams
Proven evidence that staff who are encouraged and supported
develop rapidly as individuals and groups when empowered
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

18. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
What methods are used to evaluate?
Formal evaluation completed 22nd - 31st
March positive outcomes which
resulted in recurring of funds
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

19. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
Questionnaires devised for both resident and immediate carer or family member
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

20. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
Future Plans
To train and develop staff skills in rehabilitation and
re-ablement
NVQ qualifications in Health & Social Care
Maintain current high standards, strengthen joint working
and multi-disciplinary team approach to the Unit
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

21. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
What lessons are there for others?
Forward Planning with adequate time scales
Situation of the Unit
Transition from Health Environment
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice

22. Livingstone Ashford Unit
Beccles War Memorial Hospital
July 2002
Produced by Eileen Whiting
Innovation & Best Practice