More information about the ICT team
The 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.
Our ICT team is unique in the range of support it can provide to patients within one team. The team can provide initial nurse assessments and conduct blood tests in patient's homes, often getting same-day results. If the patient is able to remain at home, the team can often follow up with some short-term monitoring in the patient's home. They can also conduct a therapy assessment and deliver a period of therapy at home, along with arranging additional equipment that may be required to support the patient in their recovery. Where safe to do so, they can also assist with patients who have had a fall and support some patients to receive IV (through the vein) antibiotics at home.
Delivering this care in this way often means that the patient can remain in their own home, close to the things that matter to them such as pets, neighbours and family. They can avoid a hospital admission where they may be at a greater risk of losing strength and mobility and picking up infections.
More recently, the ICT team has been working with the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to share referrals. Most adult category 3 calls (these are deemed as urgent calls, but not an emergency or life threatening) can be referred to the ICT team. In all instances, EMAS carry out an initial assessment, and where appropriate, they can refer to the ICT team.
The team takes referrals from GPs, EMAS and from patients who have already had care from the service. Each day, the team attends initial assessments and follow-up visits to patients already referred into the service, this can equate to over 350 appointments in one day, in patients' homes all over Northamptonshire.
Since May 2024, the team has received 1,000 referrals each month, where the aim has been to avoid hospital admission. It will not always be possible to avoid a hospital admission but, in many cases, the ICT team is able to safely keep patients at home, reducing pressure on hospital services and keeping patients safe at home.
Additionally, the team has supported the safe discharge home of 450 patients every month following a stay in hospital. With support and therapy form the ICT team, patients can regain strength and balance and the ability to resume normal daily activities.