1c. What are your comments on the following identified priority: Intermediate Care?

Recommendation: Investment in existing intermediate care services, including step-down, and development of new intermediate care approaches (option 77, 79 and 80).

Intermediate care services are provided to patients, usually older people, either leaving hospital or when they are at risk in the community in order to help maintain their independence and reduce the likelihood of unnecessary admissions to hospital.

Evidence shows that well-designed intermediate care can improve people’s outcomes and levels of satisfaction, reduce admissions to hospital and long-term social care services, and reduce delayed discharges from hospital.

A report presented to the East Lothian IJB in February 2023 highlighted the breadth and depth of intermediate care services being provided throughout East Lothian and the benefits now being realised due to earlier investment.

Examples of ongoing intermediate care development work include:

• The Care at Home Change Board, which aims to review the current delivery of care at home services and identify alternative methods of organising, scheduling, and resourcing services to meet the increasing needs of the East Lothian’s ageing population.
• Implementation of the dementia strategy,
• Enhancing the use of technology within the East Lothian Rehabilitation Service.

Recommendation 3 of the final report encouraged the Integration Joint Board (IJB) to focus on extending Intermediate Care resources, develop new and more intermediate care provision and noted that it should be a key priority for further investment.

This priority provides an opportunity to remain committed to developing intermediate care services to facilitate care closer to home and ensure that East Lothian’s population can remain within their own communities for as long as possible. Provision of efficient and effective intermediate care is also vital to alleviate pressure on hospital and care home beds.

[Taken from POPS Engagement and Consultation Document]