Urgent Community Response Team

The Urgent Community Response (UCR) Team, formerly known as the Intermediate Care Team, has two key aims:

1. To prevent unnecessary hospital admissions by providing rapid assessment and treatment within the community wherever possible.
2. To support timely and safe discharge from hospital for those who do require admission, enabling them to return home as quickly as appropriate with the necessary support in place.

The UCR team comprises a diverse range of professionals, including nurses, therapists, rehabilitation technicians, healthcare assistants and administrative colleagues, who work together to deliver high-quality patient care. They work across the whole of Northamptonshire from 8am to 1am.

Find out more about the team and how they work by watching the first video on the right hand side of the page, called "Introducing the ICT team".

The UCR team also works closely with both acute hospital trusts across Northamptonshire, supporting the timely and safe discharge of patients from hospital back into the community.

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

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 blood and act on blood test results, 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 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 multi-disciplinary health and social care teams to ensure patient care is coordinated and continuous.

Hydration - It is important to drink plenty of fluids, especially if it is warm weather or if you have been unwell. If you are dehydrated, you are more at risk of falls, infections and constipation

Continence - Managing your continence with safe toileting and continence products is important in reducing your risk of having a fall and becoming unwell

Pressure care - It is important to try to keep moving throughout the day to reduce your risk of pressure ulcers which can lead to serious complications

Nutrition - It is important to maintain a healthy diet to reduce your risk of becoming unwell

Medication - Ensure that you are taking all prescribed medications correctly to manage your health conditions

Home safety - Cluttered properties increase your risk of having a fall and becoming unwell. Keep the floors and walkways clear from obstruction

Exercise and falls risk - Daily exercises will help you to maintain strength and independence and reduce your risk of having a fall. Around 1 in 3 adults aged over 65, and 50% of people aged over 80 will have at least one fall a year. Most falls do not result in serious injury. But there is always a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones, and it can cause individuals to lose confidence, become withdrawn, and feel as if they have lost their independence

Recognise signs of becoming unwell - Recognise signs of becoming unwell - it is important to recognise when you or a loved one is deteriorating and to seek appropriate support in order to act quickly and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

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 carry out 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 blood and act on blood test results, 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 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 multi-disciplinary health and social care teams to ensure patient care is coordinated and continuous.

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 stay in hospital often lose their independence very quickly, making it harder to get home and return to the things they enjoy.

Did you know?
Patients can lose 12-40% of their muscle strength within one week of being immobile. Recovering at home and continuing with daily tasks such as walking around the home, climbing the 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, in their own beds when they are in control of lighting and noise. Better sleep helps 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 more the risk of getting an infection. Being at home means you can continue to do the things you enjoy and eat the meals you choose rather than sticking to a hospital structure.

Hydration - It is important to drink plenty of fluids, especially if it is warm weather or if you have been unwell. If you are dehydrated, you are more at risk of falls, infections and constipation

Continence - Managing your continence with safe toileting and continence products is important in reducing your risk of having a fall and becoming unwell

Pressure care - It is important to try to keep moving throughout the day to reduce your risk of pressure ulcers which can lead to serious complications

Nutrition - It is important to maintain a healthy diet to reduce your risk of becoming unwell

Medication - Ensure that you are taking all prescribed medications correctly to manage your health conditions

Home safety - Cluttered properties increase your risk of having a fall and becoming unwell. Keep the floors and walkways clear from obstruction

Exercise and falls risk - Daily exercises will help you to maintain strength and independence and reduce your risk of having a fall. Around 1 in 3 adults aged over 65, and 50% of people aged over 80 will have at least one fall a year. Most falls do not result in serious injury. But there is always a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones, and it can cause individuals to lose confidence, become withdrawn, and feel as if they have lost their independence

Recognise signs of becoming unwell

Recognise signs of becoming unwell - it is important to recognise when you or a loved one is deteriorating and to seek appropriate support in order to act quickly and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.