3191 Evaluating a frailty same day emergency care service: patient and family perspectives

Abstract

Introduction Frailty is a growing concern, particularly for older adults attending Emergency Departments (EDs). Frailty accounts for 5–10% of all ED visits and up to 30% of acute admissions. The NHS mandates that hospitals with Type 1 EDs provide a minimum of 70 hours of Acute Frailty Services per week to address this challenge. At Salford Royal Foundation Trust (SRFT), a Frailty Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service was introduced to deliver rapid assessment and care for frail older adults, aiming to reduce hospital admissions and improve patient outcomes. This service operates five days per week and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team. Methods A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the Frailty SDEC service. Data was collected through paper surveys distributed to patients aged 65 years or older with a Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) >5 and their relatives or carers during their admission to the SDEC service. The survey included both closed-ended and open-ended questions. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results A total of 32 responses were collected over a two-month period in 2024. The results showed high levels of patient and family satisfaction (97%) with the Frailty SDEC service. Participants particularly valued the compassionate and personalised care, clear and professional communication, and the efficient and timely service delivery. Areas for improvement included upgrading the physical environment and providing clearer communication about waiting times and procedures. Conclusion The Frailty SDEC service at SRFT demonstrates high levels of patient satisfaction and effectiveness in delivering care for frail older adults. This evaluation provides valuable insights for enhancing patient-centred care and highlights the importance of further research to explore long-term outcomes and compare different models of SDEC services for older adults.