Innovative reconfiguration of Trust beds improves care and reduces costs

15 May 26

An innovative reconfiguration of beds at Seward Lodge, one of our mental health services for older people, is helping to improve care and reduce out of area placements.

Staff group standing outside Seward Lodge entrance, waving at the camera beneath a sign that reads “Welcome to Seward Lodge” with “Our Values: Welcoming, Kind, Positive, Respectful, Professional” above.

The change provides 16 beds for assessing and treating frail functional service users. These are people aged over 65 who have a mental illness such as depression and also frailty, which is when someone has reduced strength, endurance and resilience making them more vulnerable to becoming unwell and taking longer to recover.

Gerry Geoghegan, Service Manager in our Mental Health Services for Older People has led the project. He said:

“Any delays in accessing care can worsen symptoms and increase the risk of crisis situations. This transformation will help to increase access to urgent beds and provide treatment closer to home. We know that if a service user is placed in hospital a distance from home, it can make it difficult for family and friends to visit which can lead to social isolation and hinder recovery. It will also reduce pressure on carers.

“The change will retain the current number of inpatient beds in older people’s services but makes better use of some beds to meet the current and predicted future demand. The service offered can also flex and adapt according to need.”

The beds have been reallocated from dementia service users but will not compromise their care. Excellent dementia care will continue to be delivered through our specialist older adult community services and dedicated dementia units across the Trust, including the recently refurbished Elizabeth Court, as well as Lambourne Grove and Logandene.

It is anticipated that this project will save the Trust approximately £1 million per year on out of area beds.

To support the transition, additional staff training is underway to ensure teams have the right skills and expertise to meet the needs of frail functional service users.

The reconfiguration has been undertaken in collaboration with stakeholders including Carers in Herts and Admiral Nurses, ensuring co-production and transparent communication throughout the project.

The Trust marked the completion of the work with a celebratory event, bringing together stakeholders, staff and service users involved in the project.

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Innovative reconfiguration of Trust beds improves care and reduces costs