A HEALTH initiative designed to improve the quality of treatment for patients living in care homes has been launched by Wyre Forest’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The care homes and health in partnership programme (CHiPP) aims to streamline services for patients and strengthen relationships between GPs and care home staff.

The CCG-led programme was set up following feedback from several care homes in the district and involves community nurses, GPs and pharmacists working to provide additional care.

GP and clinical lead for Wyre Forest CCG, Simon Gates, said: “We have now commissioned two nurses to work alongside care home staff in the district to provide clinical support to staff should a patientbecome unwell.

“We have also set up a system whereby one GP practice is responsible for managing patients in a care home. This is to ensure residents have regular visits from the same GPs and patients and staff will be able to get to know their GPs better.”

Debbie Fidoe, manager of Shenstone House, Shenstone, said: “There seems to have been a missing link between care homes and GPs, which has not been filled. To have the support from a community nurse is brilliant.”

Tim Herbert, one of the community nurses for the project, said a pilot scheme had seen a 13 per cent reduction in avoidable hospital admissions through face-to-face clinical assessments, management plans and training sessions.

“We are set to perform a similar role to all care homes within the locality and I’m excited at the prospect of improving the lives of the residents within those Wyre Forest care homes,” he added.

For more information about the scheme, call CCG executive administrator Helen Arnold on 01562 513559.