Longer term funding agreed for service that supports elderly frail people at home
A new, integrated approach to supporting older people living with frailty that launched in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire in January 2024, has secured funding until March 2026.
Frailty-ACE (Assessment and Coordination for Emergency and Urgent Care) is a service for older people with multiple medical conditions or those living with frailty, who have urgent or emergency care needs. The goal of the service is to provide a multi-professional, multi-organisation, person-centred assessment and where possible, support them to be cared for in their own home. The team comprises clinicians and staff working in primary care, social care, mental health and community care, and works closely with hospital geriatricians.
It means paramedics who are called out to a frail older person can contact the Frailty-ACE team, who can then manage the person’s urgent care needs at home, or arrange a direct hospital admission instead of going to the emergency department. GPs who refer someone for a hospital admission are also offered the opportunity for F-ACE to help.
Following a successful test period during Winter 2023/24, a funding commitment for F-ACE has been secured allowing the service to run until March 2026.
Dr Charlie Kenward, GP and Research Clinical Lead at Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, who works in the Frailty-ACE team, said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled the service has received funding for the next two years. It’s testament to the work of the Frailty-ACE team and the care it provides for frail older people.
“The F-ACE team coordinates community care for frail older people who have an emergency or urgent care need, who would traditionally have been admitted to hospital. Our team is set up to co-ordinate care options to help keep people be cared for at home, or arrange direct admission to a hospital ward or other service.”
Watch Dr Kenward’s video to find out more about Frailty-ACE.
Find out more about the service on the Frailty-ACE website.