Respite Care:
The Hospital offer respite care for a period of one or two weeks, so that families can take a break and know that their elderly relatives are safe and well cared for. Respite care patients are encouraged to spend time in the Hospital's day room, where a range of activities ensure that the time passes quickly and pleasantly. All meals are prepared and cooked in the Hospital using fresh local ingredients and a varied menu ensures that most tastes are catered for. Whilst a formal menu choice is not normally available, the Hospital is pleased to make special arrangements for any patients with particular likes and dislikes or for those with special dietary needs, such as diabetics, those who require low fat diets or those with food allergies.
In addition to its multi bedded wards, the Hospital has five single rooms and one two-bedded room, all with en-suite toilet and hand basin. Whilst these are normally allocated in the first instance to those patients who are most unwell, any which are not allocated in this way are normally given to respite care patients.
For the purposes of determining the appropriate charges, patients admitted for respite care are divided into three categories:
- Residential Only - minimal nursing support = £400.00 per week
- Intermediate Nursing Support = £461.00 per week
- Comprehensive Nursing Support = £525.00 per week
Respite charges are reviewed annually in March.
Where a patient requires financial asistance from Social Services, the assessment of which category applies will be made by the Social Worker.
Charges:
Patients admitted for respite care are charged against a scale which is revised annually. Agreement to admit for respite care is in the nature of a contract between the individual and Tarporley War memorial Hospital Trust. Any request to vary the charge, or period to be charged for, should be referred to the Hospital Manager and must be agreed in advance of admission.
Responsibility for payment:
The patient or the patient's relatives (according to who is making the request for admission) are responsible for meeting the cost of respite care. If financial help is needed Social Services may pay all or part of the cost dependent upon the financial circumstances of the patient (not the relatives).
Application for financial help should be made to the Social Services Division appropriate to the patient's area of residence, well in advance of the date of admission to allow the necessary assessments to be made.
Arranging admission for respite care:
An initial request for Respite Care should be made through the patient's own GP, who will decide whether such care is appropriate. Subsequent requests can be made direct to the Matron or the nurse-in-charge. Normally, respite care is for periods of one or two weeks at a time.
Accommodation to be used:
Every attempt will be made to accommodate Respite care patients in single rooms or in the double room unless they request otherwise or if all the single rooms are required for other patients on medical grounds.
Patients becoming ill during a period of respite care:
Patients admitted for respite care but who become ill during their period of stay will continue to be charged on the care category scale determined prior to admission for the period of their booked stay. If the length of stay extends beyond the planned respite care period due to illness, no charge will be made for this further period.
Patients awaiting a place in a residential or nursing home:
Patients remaining in hospital or admitted because they are awaiting the availability of a place in a residential or nursing home will be charged on the scale appropriate to respite care patients. Such patients will only be admitted if it is clear that a place has been found and a definite transfer date has been agreed. Requests for the admission of patients in such circumstances should be made through their own GP. If the patient's GP is not one of those associated with the hospital, the GP should route the request through the Matron who will try to arrange medical care whilst in hospital.
