This issue, we’re shining a spotlight on a service that has recently undergone some big changes. Two teams have combined to create a safer and stronger service for patients.

REACT stands for ‘Rapid Emergency Assessment Care Team’ and it aims to prevent people coming to hospital unnecessarily, and also supports patients to get home quickly after a hospital stay, in a safe and appropriate way. The team carries out detailed and wide-ranging clinical assessments of their patients to help paint a picture of what led the patient to go into hospital in the first place. An important part of REACT’s job is then to refer patients on to other useful services that can support them to go home safely, like Rapid Response, community healthcare services, and voluntary services such as the Red Cross.

The service is staffed by a range of different clinicians and therapists, and includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses. Until now, REACT has supported and assessed patients from the Emergency Departments of both the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Southmead Hospital, but has now grown to include our ‘Hospital In-Reach’ teams, based in the Older Person’s Assessment Unit and Medical Assessment Unit at the BRI, plus the equivalent departments at Southmead Hospital.

Together, REACT In-Reach is now able to offer a more resilient and joined-up service, and can continue to help patients get out of an acute hospital and into the comfort of their own community more quickly, with an appropriate package of care.

Example patient experience:
A man in his late eighties recently arrived in the Emergency Department complaining of acute and sudden back pain. He was normally very independent, walked without aids, and even played golf! Following REACT’s assessment, he was admitted to hospital overnight and reassessed the following day. The team checked
his mobility and pain level, and discussed exercises and pacing activities. The team used the discharge and resettling service of the Red Cross to help him get home that afternoon and, following a referral, the Rapid Response Team arrived at his home the following morning. With the support of REACT, this man - along with many others - was able to leave hospital much quicker to be looked after in their own home, a place we know many patients would much
prefer to be.
For more information on this service visit www.briscomhealth.org.uk/our-services/react