New stop-gap Hampshire nursing home to open for vulnerable patients leaving QA Hospital

The Gosport facility, which is in the Clarence Unit at Woodcot Lodge, will provide care for 54 patients.

Residents will be supported by a team of dedicated nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and skilled care staff who will work with patients to plan their rehabilitation and onward care.

Hampshire County Council, along with NHS partners, believe the facility is particularly important in supporting elderly patients who may have suffered from Covid-19. It will help alleviate the current stress the pandemic has placed on care homes.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, executive member for adult social care and health, said: ‘Finding suitable and safe care accommodation to support those leaving hospital, but who are not well enough to go home, is always challenging.

‘During the coronavirus pandemic, because of the increased need for facilities where people are able to isolate safely and because we do not want to pass undue risk to other very hard pushed public and private care homes, this challenge has intensified.’

Dr David Chilvers, clinical chair for Hampshire Partnership of Clinical Commissioning Groups, added: ‘The new unit will see a number of organisations working together to provide the care and support patients need in a safe environment, to help them recover and build up their strength.

‘It will allow us to make best use of our combined health and social care skills and resources so that we can provide care tailored to the need of each patient.’

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To reduce risk of coronavirus transmission, patients will initially be cared for in a 14-day period of isolation in which they will be supported by a dedicated care team but will not be able to mix with other residents.

The council hopes the rehabilitation service, the first of its kind in Hampshire, will continue after the pandemic subsides.

Cllr Fairhurst added: ‘This is an exciting new initiative and could, beyond the Covid-19 period, provide the blueprint for additional dedicated short-term nursing care facilities.’

There is a maximum 28-day stay, after which residents will return home or go to a longer term care setting.

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