New service to stop frail islanders hitting “crisis point”

Saturday 21 December 2019

A new community physiotherapy service has been launched to help vulnerable, frail and elderly islanders improve their physical health before hitting “crisis point” and “reduce strain” on the health service.

The ‘Fit for Life Programme’ aims to help patients at risk of falls with their strength, balance, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness to reduce their likelihood of being admitted to hospital.

Set up by Health and Community Services, the initiative sees patients invited to take part in two 60-minute group sessions per week for eight weeks. 

It is open to islanders who suffer from frailty or deteriorating health or long-term neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s or Multiple Sclerosis.

Pictured: The initiative aims to reduce the burden on the hospital.

Islanders can also be referred to the service following discharge from hospital to aid their recovery.

The service was initially only available to islanders already in touch with the Physiotherapy Department, but occupational therapists, members of the Rapid Response and Reablement team, and social workers are now all able to refer islanders too.

Soon, GPs will equally be able to do so, and self-referrals are also being planned.

Explaining the rationale behind the service, Senior Physiotherapist Jonny Grimster said: “We realised that we were only seeing people in Physiotherapy when they reached crisis point, for example not until they had fallen and broken a hip. This new service aims to earlier identify those patients who are at risk to prevent them reaching crisis which will ultimately reduce the strain on acute services.

“Public Health England advise that adults should complete 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity. If patients come to two sessions a week, then that’s 120 minutes of exercise plus we give them a bit of homework. Adults who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits such as maintaining good physical and cognitive function.”   

A community physiotherapy service has been launched to help prevent islanders at risk of falls, frailty and deteriorating health from being admitted to hospital https://t.co/mCDe6EUzk5 pic.twitter.com/XuorNxhLrv

— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) December 16, 2019

Sessions are being held in venues in the east and west of the island, including St. Ouen and St. John’s Parish hall and Le Squez Youth Centre and St. Martin’s Parish Hall.

Participants are able to select a session to match their ability, with a mixture of seated, standing and circuit-based exercise groups available.

After completing the programme, their progress will be monitored three and 12 months later.

The new health drive comes as government is planning a wide-ranging reform of the health service branded ‘The Jersey Care Model’.

Among its proposals are more community-based healthcare initiatives, as well as an urgent treatment centre and day surgeries, to lighten the burden on the island’s aging hospital.

Health Minister Deputy Richard Renouf commented: “This is an exciting time for health and social care in Jersey as we look to move services that don’t need to be provided in the hospital into the community so that high-quality care is easier for islanders to access.”