Caring for patients in the best and most efficient way across healthcare barriers was discussed during a visit by a leading healthcare expert.
Professor Tim Briggs CBE visited Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) to find out how the organisation works with acute trusts and other partners, as well as taking an in-depth look at schemes which support people to stay well at home and keep them out of hospital.
Professor Briggs visited the trust with two colleagues from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) NHS Improvement programme, of which he is the chair. He is also the national director for clinical quality and efficiency for the NHS.
During his day with KCHFT, he found out more about the organisation’s Home First scheme – which helps hospital patients get home sooner – its Rapid Response Service, its Home Treatment Service and the trust’s west Kent local referral unit, while visiting the trust’s Coxheath Clinic, at Coxheath, near Maidstone.
Afterwards, he visited the Wound Medicine Centre at Sevenoaks Hospital and while there also met the musculoskeletal physiotherapy team.
Professor Briggs said KCHFT was doing some “fantastic” work and said he hoped to share its models of working with other trusts across the country.