WARWICKSHIRE NORTH FRAILTY HUB CELEBRATES ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
3 October 2024
Rural Warwickshire North Primary Care Network (PCN) invited health and care professionals from across the system and patients of the Frailty Hub to celebrate its one-year anniversary on Friday 27th September to reflect on successes and discuss next steps for the initiative.
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Frailty Hub staff and delegates from local Trusts, social care, public health, and community and voluntary organisations attended the celebration which began with an introductory speech from Dr Mehwish Qureshi, Clinical Director for Rural Warwickshire North PCN about how the service helps those with frailty.
A patient may be defined as frail if they are over 65 with one of the following:
- Take ten or more medications
- Heart failure
- Have two or more co-morbidities
- Have mild, moderate, or severe frailty
Since its launch in September 2023, the Frailty Hub has undertaken 667 medical reviews across six Warwickshire North practices and successfully increased patients seen in the period January to July from six to ten.
A panel of patients that have all benefited from the Frailty Hub were in attendance and among those, Gerald Spencer, who was the very first patient to be seen at Hazelwood Practice where the pilot initially launched.
Delegates heard how the Frailty Hub is a ‘one stop shop’, now operating out of Hartshill Health Centre, that allow patients to see a range of specialists in a single visit.
Dr Mehwish Qureshi said:
“The Frailty Hub is a collaborative project between South Warwickshire Foundation Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, WFT, GEH, Warwickshire North Rural PCN and VCSE with support from Warwickshire North Place.
“The journey started last year September 2023 when we welcomed our first patient.
“The Frailty Hub helps to try and narrow the health inequalities gap in the area.”
She added:
“Research has shown that it can be difficult for frailty patients to attend the variety of appointments and different settings on a regular basis, so having a one stop shop makes it easier for them to get the healthcare they need where they need it.”
The event was rounded off by Dr Maneesh Kumar, Deputy Clinical Director for Rural Warwickshire North PCN highlighting next steps for the Frailty Hub, which include trialling some clinics at Dordon & Polesworth Practice, as well as looking into outreach clinics in more local practices, home visits, and visits to care homes.