A combination of two service models 

HomeLink Plus supports a mixed cohort of patients through a combination of two existing service models: 

• Rehabilitation Intermediate Care: An AHP-led service for patients with rehabilitation potential, aligned to national guidance. 
• Package of Care Plus: A nurse or AHP-led bridging service for patients requiring nursing and physiotherapy in addition to personal care.  

The rehabilitation focus will assist the patient to quickly achieve their new baseline for independence. This will reduce the likelihood of readmission and minimise or remove the need for long term care.  

How does it work?

• A full ward of ‘hospital beds’ at home is commissioned at a fixed price. These ‘beds’ enable patients to receive Intermediate Care at Home as soon as they are medically stable.  
• Care is provided by a HomeLink Healthcare community multi-disciplinary team of nurses, physiotherapists and reablement support workers.  
• Patients can be discharged as soon as medically stable or avoid admission. This frees up bed capacity.  
• When one patient ‘leaves’ the service, a bed becomes free, and another patient is admitted to the at-home ward.  
• The  fixed cost per bed equates to approximately 60 percent of a typical in-patient cost and under half that of an escalation bed. 
• HomeLink Plus is essentially a ‘Virtual Ward for discharged patients’, where medical accountability sits with the GP. 

How is this different from HomeLink Healthcare’s usual offer?  

• HomeLink Plus is specifically for Intermediate Care patients.  
• Offers assured care capacity for 28* patients through a community MDT, for up to six weeks. *the number would be confirmed following a feasibility assessment  
• MDT support includes intensive physiotherapy in the first two weeks where clinically indicated, to maximise reablement potential.  
• Is delivered at a fixed cost charged on a ‘per bed’ (not ‘per visit’) basis that is c50-60% of in-hospital care.  

HomeLink Plus benefits the whole system 

HomeLink Plus is aligned to national guidance which points to the majority of Intermediate Care being delivered to patients at home by a community MDT.  

HomeLink Plus benefits the whole system and is a solution for the future of the NHS and integrated care:  

• Patients have an improved experience and outcomes 
• Beds are freed up through improved patient flow and admission avoidance 
• Up to six weeks to plan for long term care   
• Smaller ongoing care packages that are cheaper and easier to deliver  
• Fixed cost at 50-60% of in-hospital care* (James Paget Hospital costs)