Jean Bishop Centre
Opening of Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre, marks new era of care for frail, elderly in Hull
The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre (ICC) in Hull was officially opened on Friday 6th July 2018 during the week the NHS celebrated its 70th birthday. This innovative new facility, the first of its type in the UK, was opened by Jean Bishop, Hull’s Bee Lady and is transforming care for older people in Hull by providing out of hospital care, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions, enabling residents to keep fit, healthy and living independently in their own homes.
What is an Integrated Care Centre?
The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre (ICC) is a unique approach towards treating the 12,000 frail older people in Hull with long term conditions, who have been assessed by their GP as being at risk of hospital admission.
It’s a totally different way of caring for patients. A member of the team visits the patient in their own home to undertake an assessment and identify issues that the patient wishes to discuss with the team when they attend the ICC. These issues often range from concerns about their health, social interaction or anything they are struggling with. Not only does this help the patient and carer understand what to expect at the ICC but it also helps identify which members of the team they need to see.
The Centre has a comprehensive specialist team including Older People’s Consultants/Geriatricians, Advance Nurse Practitioners, GPs, pharmacists, therapists, social workers and the voluntary sector. There are diagnostics on hand, enabling the team to undertake blood tests and x-rays.
Straight away you can tell it’s a different experience as you wouldn’t see all those people in a hospital outpatient clinic at once. It brings everyone together in one place. A hospital admission is often a flashpoint in people’s lives, often when they have a crisis, and it can be difficult to identify their needs at that time. The care at the ICC feels different as it is about prevention and working in a proactive way. At the end of their visit to the ICC the patient is given their care plan to take home with them, knowing they’ve been listened to and having a plan and support in place which will be implemented and monitored.
What can I expect at the Jean Bishop Centre?
Ray was visited by the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Frailty) at home to discuss his medical and non-medical needs before his visit so that his morning at the ICC could be planned well. Initially Ray was anxious about coming into the ICC but – accompanied by his wife and carer Val – he had a number of successful consultations, specialist and therapy services, including a community geriatrician who reviewed his medication.
Meeting Ray’s medical needs was only half of the story – he already had a manual wheelchair, but it was too heavy for Val to push up and down the ramp built by the Council, effectively confining him to the house. Staff at the Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre were able to work with wheelchair services to fast-track a new electric wheelchair. Now on better medication and with an electric wheelchair, Ray was more confident leave his house, and he was able spend time in East Park with Val in the Hull neighbourhood where they had lived in all their lives.
Sadly Ray died in September 2019 but Val has given her permission for the film to be shown
Where can I find more Information?
Now in its seventh year, Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre in Hull is a leading example of NHS, social care, voluntary, fire and rescue services working collaboratively to keep thousands of frail and elderly people in the surrounding area fit, out of hospital and living independently at home or in their care setting To find out more click here.
