Urgent Community Response Team

The Urgent Community Response team (formally Intermediate Care team) has two fundamental aims:

1. To stop people being admitted to hospital wherever possible

2. If people do have to be admitted, the team support people to be discharged home safely and quickly

The team is made up of over 200 colleagues, from nurses, therapists and rehabilitation technicians to healthcare assistants alongside a team of admin professionals. They work across the whole of Northamptonshire every day of the week from 8am to 1am.

Find out more about the team and how they work by watching the video.

The UCR team also work within the Emergency Departments of each of the two Northamptonshire General Hospitals.

The short video below explains more about the role of the UCR team in Emergency Departments.

It is important to go to hospital if you are very ill or need surgery, but studies suggest the best place to recover is at home. People who are admitted to hospital often lose their independence very quickly, making it harder to get home and return to the things they enjoy.

Did you know?
You could lose between 12-40% of your muscle strength within one week of being immobile. Staying at home and continuing with daily tasks such as walking around your home, climbing your stairs and washing and dressing yourself helps you to maintain your strength and independence.

Sleep in hospital is often disturbed by loud noises, talking and lighting. People tend to sleep better in their own homes, intheir own beds when they are in control of lighting and noise. Better sleep aids recovery. Being at home surrounded by loved ones helps people to feel more relaxed which can help speed up recovery.

Hospitalised patients are at a greater risk of infection, the longer the hospital stay, the greater the risk of hospital-acquired infections. Being at home means you can continue todo the things you enjoy and eat the meals you choose rather than sticking to a hospital structure.

Referral: You can be referred via the hospital, your GP, ambulance service, specialist nursing services or a carer/family member.

Assessment: A qualified nurse or therapist will undertake a holistic assessment and agree a care or rehabilitation plan with you to ensure goals are met and support is received from appropriate health care professionals.

Treatment/support: UCR nurses may take and act on blood tests, prescribe medication or advise about medications. We may continue to see you, monitoring your observations for improvements. We will do our best to support you to remain at home - however there may be occasions when your best treatment option will be to attend the acute hospital. In that case we will make a plan with you.

Discharge/onward referrals: If long-term support is needed we work closely with other multidisciplinary health and social care teams to ensure patient care is co-ordinated and continuous.

• Equipment Services (Millbrook) 0330 124 1219
• Assistive Technology 01536 805 888 (North) 0300 126 7000 (West)
• Community Occupational Therapy: 0300 126 3000 (North) 0300 126 7000 (West)
• AgeUK 01604 611200
• Northamptonshire Sport: 01604 389976
• Adult Social Care 0300 126 3000 (North) 0300 126 7000 (West)
• Community Therapy Services 0300 027 4312 (North), 0300 027 1310 (West)
• MSK Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy 0330 555 6789
• Community Brain Injury 03000 272 106
• Northamptonshire Carers 01933 677 907

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