Urgent Community Response Team (UCR)
Our team provides assessment, treatment and monitoring of patients who have experienced a recent deterioration in their physical health.
This is an administrative location only, please visit our Urgent Community Response Team overview page for more information on this service and referral details.
This is an administrative location only, please visit our Urgent Community Response Team overview page for more information on this service and referral details.
Highfield Clinical Care Centre
Cliftonville Road
Northampton
NN1 5DN
Telephone: 0300 777 0002 (select option 1)
Mon-Sun 08.00-21.00
365 days
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 first video on the right hand side of the page, called "Introducing the ICT team".
The UCR team also work within the Emergency Departments of each of the two Northamptonshire General Hospitals.
The second video explains more about the role of the UCR team in Emergency Departments.
Our UCR 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. Watch the video to see one of our Senior sisters carrying out initial assessments in the community.
The UCR team can also conduct therapy assessments and deliver a period of therapy at home, along with arranging additional equipment that may be required to support the patient in their recovery.
This can be arranged following an initial assessment by one of the Senior Nurses, or as part of a supported discharge following a hospital admission.
Watch the video as Natalie carries out a therapy visit to a patient who has had a recent stay in hospital.
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.
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?
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 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 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
