Primary Community Continuing Care

 

Community Intervention Teams

The HSE South established this service to provide additional services in the community, on a 7-day basis, to support General Practitioners and Emergency Departments of acute hospitals in Cork city. This support is the provision of fast-tracked access to Nursing and Home Help services for patients with an acute episode or illness, who have been medically assessed and it has been determined that their care can be managed in their own home, with the additional services of the CIT.

The main focus of the CIT is the prevention of avoidable hospital admissions and the facilitation of early discharge from hospital. This will be done through the provision of immediate supports by the team of Public Health Nurses (PHNs), Registered General Nurses (RGNs) and Home Helps dedicated to the CIT. The team will manage the care of the patient until their care can be transferred back to mainstream community services and the aim is that this will happen within 72 hours.

The Community Intervention Team takes patient referrals from General Practitioners and the staff of the Emergency Departments of acute hospitals in the city. Referrals are accepted between 09:00am and 11.30pm on a 7-day basis.

Criteria for referral

  • Any patient over 18 years of age living within 10 miles of Cork city.
  • Have been assessed for an episode of acute illness and discharged home but cannot self-manage and/or requires the provision of non-medical care supports in the home, such as Nursing or Home Help.
  • They do not need to be in possession of a Medical Card.

All referral phone calls must be followed by a faxed concise medical history from the General Practitioners or Emergency Department staff.

Rapid Response Beds

For patients in the Emergency Department who need short term crisis intervention providing care for an interim period of 24 - 72 hours while the mainstream services are being arranged.

Criteria

  • Medical Card holders over 65 years of age.
  • Patients who do not require acute hospital admission
  • Patients who need short term crisis intervention only.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute Psychiatric History.
  • Alcohol abuse.

Referrals

Made by the Medical Staff of the Emergency Department Cork University Hospital.

Bed management must be made aware of patients occupying these Rapid Response bed.

Transport

Patients can go by family car, or if family is unavailable, in a hospital taxi with a Care Assistant