Intermediate care
* Intermediate care services help to bridge the gap between hospital and home and provide support for older people.
About the service
Following a stay in hospital some patients need extra support or rehabilitation. The intermediate care service provides this support helping patients to recover faster from their illness and to make sure that they can live as independently as possible once they get out of hospital. The service also helps to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and ensures that people who do not need to remain in hospital can move home or to another facility where they can receive support and rehabilitation.
Patients may need support:
- In a nursing home
- In a community hospital
- In their own home
Professionals who provide rehabilitation and intermediate care services include:
- Nurses
- Support workers
- Doctors
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational therapists
- Rehabilitation assistants
- Podiatrists (chiropodists)
- Speech & language therapists
- Dietitians
- Social workers
Intermediate care services in North Tyneside are provided by North Tyneside Primary Care Trust and other organisations including North Tyneside Council and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust. These organisations work together to ensure that intermediate care in North Tyneside is co-ordinated, effective and able to link with complimentary services such as in-patient rehabilitation wards, social services resource centres, specialist medical services and short and long-term care at home services.
How can I access the service?
Patients are referred onto the service by:
- their GP
- Hospital doctor
- Hospital nurse
Once an assessment of the patients needs is undertaken a coordinated package of care and rehabilitative treatment is provided.
Contact details
Jean Shrimplin
Modern Matron
Intermediate Care Service
Tel: 0191 2934235
Useful websites
Age Concern - Age Concern is a national charity which works with and on behalf of older people. The website contains a wealth of information for older people on both health and social issues.
Age Concern (North Tyneside) - Age Concern North Tyneside is a local website providing information on local support groups, financial information and health advice.
Help the Aged (England) - The Help the Aged webswide range of advice leaflets to help you with topics such as healthcare, making a will, housing or leisure.
National Care Standards Commission - this independent body conducts assessments of all the social care services available across England. The website also provides a search facility to find local care services and care homes in your area.
EAC Housing Care - The elderly accomodation channel (EAC) is a charity that helps older people make informed choices about their housing and care needs. The website contains information on how to maintain, adapt or improve your home as well as advice about moving into a care home or retirement housing.
