Brunelcare Help Free Up NHS Hospital Beds

Little Heath, Brunelcare’s newest Care Home and Reablement Centre, officially opened in South Gloucestershire on Wednesday 1 April following registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The 64-bed Care Home and 24-bed Reablement Centre has already welcomed its first five guests.

Working in partnership with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), the new facility will play a key role in freeing up much needed hospital beds to take pressure away from the NHS during this critical time. A stay at Little Heath Reablement, will allow people to recover and build confidence outside of hospital before returning to the comfort of their own home.

Oona Goldworthy, CEO at Brunelcare said: “Brunelcare were determined, despite the Covid Crisis, that we would go ahead with the opening of Little Heath centre. This is the first time that Brunelcare and UHBW have worked in such a close partnership and we’re excited about the potential for more collaboration between the world of social care and the NHS in the future. We still have lots of exciting new career opportunities available across Brunelcare and have launched a recruitment initiative about roles available on our website.”

Lewis Farrel, Reablement Centre Manager said: “We are so pleased to have officially opened Little Heath Care and Reablement Centre on Wednesday (1 April) and to have welcomed in our first three guests. We are pleased to be playing a vital role in relieving the pressure on much needed NHS acute beds by opening our new service. The site is looking great and I’m excited to begin my role as Reablement Manager at Little Heath and welcome even more guests over the next few weeks.”

Paula Clarke, Director of Strategy and Transformation at UHBW, said: “Working more closely with our partners to support people to leave our hospitals when they are medically well enough is a key part of our strategic approach for the future, but the current pandemic makes this even more essential. We are delighted that some of our patients will be able to access further support from the bespoke Reablement Unit at Little Heath that will help them return home with as much independence as possible.”