Seven short-term care beds in North Yorkshire are to be decommissioned as health bosses shift resources towards providing more care in people’s own homes.
The Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is to stop commissioning its ‘step-up step-down’ beds from November 30.
The beds are currently provided in extra-care facilities, with all seven located in the Hambleton and Richmondshire area.
Kirkwood Hall in Leyburn has two beds, while others are located at Benkhill Lodge in Bedale, Sycamore Hall in Bainbridge, Orchid House in Thirsk, Town Close, Stokesley, and The Orchards in Brompton, Northallerton.
They are designed for people with relatively low-level needs who require support before returning home following a hospital stay, as well as providing an alternative to hospital admission for some patients.
However, figures which will be presented to North Yorkshire Council’s scrutiny of health committee next week show the beds are significantly underused.
Average occupancy has been just 43 per cent, equivalent to demand for around three of the seven beds at any one time.
Usage varies considerably between facilities.
Benkhill Lodge recorded 84 per cent occupancy over the period examined, while the two beds at Kirkwood Hall had an occupancy rate of just 25 per cent.
Just 20 people were admitted to the seven beds during a six-month period.
Health officials say modelling indicates the existing service is meeting demand equivalent to around four beds.
Rather than withdrawing the funding, the ICB says it will be reinvested alongside additional NHS and North Yorkshire Council money to expand intermediate care.
Across North Yorkshire, the number of intermediate care beds will rise from 46 to 64 from October.
Home-based intermediate care will also receive an additional 24 full-time equivalent staff, which is expected to provide support for an extra 504 people a year.
The new model will also provide increased therapy, medical oversight and a greater focus on rehabilitation and helping people regain independence.
In Hambleton and Richmondshire, the number of other intermediate care beds will increase from six to ten—matching the four-bed level of demand identified through analysis of the step-up step-down service.
Home-based services locally will gain another 4.5 full-time equivalent staff, providing capacity to support an estimated 95 additional people each year.
The changes form part of a wider move towards providing more support closer to home and intervening earlier to help people remain independent.
A new Proactive Frailty Service is also being commissioned for North Yorkshire, bringing together health, social care and voluntary organisations to identify people at risk of deterioration earlier and coordinate support around them.
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