Urgent Community Response Teams support thousands of local people

Supporting residents who are unwell in their home is now faster, safer and swifter thanks to the NHS and care partners working together to provide urgent care in the community.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is working closely with partners across the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System and Mid and South Essex Community Collaborative to drive forward improvements to care and promote best practice locally.

The Urgent Community Response Team (UCRT), a collective of nurses, paramedics, physios, occupational therapists and healthcare support workers assess patients in urgent health or social care crisis at home within a two-hour window. They can put together a package of care for an individual and also arrange for urgent equipment to be delivered, such as commodes or hospital beds.

Seeing how local people are benefitting from local innovation and collaborative working is vital to demonstrate the value local staff bring to people’s lives. 

As part of a series of case studies that capture ‘Moments that Matter,’ Jason, a former journalist and author is in his 70s from Essex, tells how after suffering with a pulmonary embolism, the UCRT provided him with urgent care at home and helped him take control and retain his independence by offering personalised care and support.

Watch Jason's Story on YouTube. 

UCRT also supports people who have had a fall at home. Non-injury falls result in avoidable ambulance call outs. It’s estimated that 1,000 care home residents in the UK will fall every day, of which 45% are uninjured and do not require conveyance to hospital.

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System was nominated at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards in the category of Community Care Initiative of the Year for Raizer Chairs for improving dignity in care and reducing ambulance call outs. Find out more about Raizer Chairs on the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System website.