The Perfect Storm

The interim stay hospitals were an excellent idea. Not only were they cost effective, something like £700 a week pp as opposed to £3000 a week in hospital, but the patients seemed happier and therefore healthier.

They were there for six months Kitty so I wonder if they couldn't do some follow up programmes. I thought the idea of the frailty team was a good one but I can see what you mean about the lady who went home. He did say that they had to be prepared ... I can't remember how he put it but something like not always to take the safest option. It is certainly the case that with everyday an elderly person is in hospital they deteriorate. I felt it took us 18 months to get my mother over a two week stay in hospital a few years ago - and all they were doing was making sure her pain medication was right.

The idea of the interim stay hospitals for recuperation seemed a very good idea and could be run mainly by nurses with visiting doctors I would have thought. The people there seemed much less institutionalised and, of course would go home fairly soon.

Yes, there's a real will for change with the 'Healthy Liverpool' project among the NHS leaders there. The task now is to get the whole message out there.

One message that came through loud and clear, and I know this will not be popular with some, is that we all bear a responsibility to look after ourselves better.

I was a bit disappointed as I would have liked more hard facts about how things actually happened. The woman that was taken home by the frailty team didn't seem fit to be left on her own. Having said that, it seems a really sensible model.

I was so impressed by what the NHS leaders in Liverpool were achieving Anya. It seemed that some seed capital would really have helped them turn things round but some NHS money would have to go to the council for them to do their part with the care.