Coventry and Warwickshire

Working together for safe discharge of learning disability patients

During the pandemic, the NHS South Warwickshire CCG worked jointly with Warwickshire County Council to ensure the timely discharge of patients back into the community.

The team of learning disability and mental health nurses focused on transforming care for their
patients with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum conditions. Transforming care ensured that
their patients were able to live in the community, with the right support and close to home.

During this time the team worked tirelessly with patients, their families and wider multidisciplinary teams. The nurses helped to break down the barriers to ensure that patients were being discharged from
hospital in a timely manner. After being discharged, the nursing team sourced placements for
patients and completed reviews to check that their patients were safe, well and that the services
were meeting their needs.

Due to the help and care of the nursing team, their patients are now able to take part in everyday
activities in their community. This includes living in and decorating their own houses and looking after their own pets. The pandemic has helped the nursing team to think more creatively and to work in a more time efficient manner as well as adapt the way they care for patients to ensure that they were supported to live their lives away from inpatient settings. Due to this level of care, patients with learning disabilities and/or autism are now able to have a home in community, access the support they need and can reach their full potential to live a healthy and happy life.