A Bootle care home has thanked its local clinical commissioning group (CCG) for its work to improve care for its residents.

Thanks to NHS South Sefton CCG’s Care Home Innovation Program (CHIP), residents at Afton Lodge are being admitted to hospital much less frequently for emergency treatment and care and are instead being cared for more comfortably in their home.

CHIP brings together a combination of elements including telehealth, improved training for care home staff, and more dedicated services to support participating homes.

Since its launch CHIP has achieved over 25% reduction in 999 calls in participating care homes and related ambulance conveyances through telehealth, community matron visits, standardisation of medical protocols, a bi-monthly quality improvement collaborative meeting and training for care home staff.

This has had an impact on many residents but Mary Searle found it massively improved the quality of her life.

Mary said: “I have really benefited from the telehealth programme and feel more comfortable speaking to doctors this way as it’s much easier to explain my symptoms. I have also stopped getting regular infections which I believe is down to being able to speak to professional doctors so easily.”

Jennifer Oldfield, joint manager at Afton Lodge, said: “We are really thankful for the CHIP programme and all it’s done for our residents. The health care assistant training has given our staff the skills and the confidence to know when a resident needs medical attention.”

Julie Dry, joint manager of Afton Lodge, said: “We have also received information and support on medicine management from the CCG allowing us to reduce the medicine waste in our care home. Our residents are also thankful for the benefits it has had on them.

We would also really like to thank Regency Healthcare who have been a constant support to all of us here at Afton Lodge.”

NHS South Sefton CCG’s CHIP team was recently recognised for its work on telehealth by the North West Coast Awards where they won the award for Best System Improvement award for its joined up approach.