STARS service easing the pain on NHS strain

Jess Philbin of the Stars Plus team with service user Barbara Cairns

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The STARS service, that provides dedicated care and support for people in their own home, has  helped more than 800 local residents in the past year.

The Council's STARS service ensures hundreds of elderly people retain their independence, following a stay in hospital, by providing hands on care in an environment of their choice.

The policy means service users are provided with person centred support, reablement and rehabilitation in their home environment. It also prevents unnecessary hospital admissions, ensuring hospital beds are freed up at Pennine Acute Hospitals. Up to 30 people are referred to the service every week, of which about 80% are hospital discharges.

A recent council survey found that most patients prefer to transfer from hospital to their home or residential care as soon as it safe to do so.

Rochdale resident Barbara Cairns recently received support from Stars Plus after a fall. She was treated at Rochdale Infirmary’s Urgent Care Centre, before returning to home to receive care and support.

Barbara said: “The superb service has benefitted me so much. I received tailored care and support in my own home from such a wonderful team of staff. They are all stars. It has helped me get my independence back quicker than I would in hospital. There really is no place like home.”

Councillor Iftikhar Ahmed, cabinet member for adult services, said: “The council’s rapid response service offers hands on care and practical support delivered by a fantastic and dedicated team. This is a brilliant and innovative policy which Rochdale is leading the way on. The amount of thank you cards the service receives is testament to the high regard people value and appreciate this service.”

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG) chairman and local GP, Dr Chris Duffy said: "We know that many people prefer to receive their care at home, rather than in hospital, and the STARS and STARS Plus services are innovative ways of delivering this treatment. It’s great to see the service’s success to date and that more local people are benefitting from easy access to home based care.”