Luxury care home to be ‘safe haven’ for patients
ASTATE-OF-THEART care home has joined the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Bramhall Manor will take on people who are well enough to be discharged from hospital but not yet ready to go back to living at home independently.
The new 71-room facility has been commissioned by Stockport’s health and social care bosses in order to free up beds at Stepping Hill for coronavirus patients in months ahead.
Owned by New Care, the home has already been dubbed ‘Stockport’s NHS Nightingale’, although - unlike the specialist centre in London built in just two weeks - it will not take Covid-19 sufferers.
Instead it will provide patients who may otherwise be facing a lengthy stay in hospital with a ‘safe environment’ for further rest and rehabilitation.
It is understood the arrangement is underpinned by a financial agreement between New Care, the council and the NHS, although the details have not yet been made public.
Health and care bosses in the borough say the move highlights the importance of the public and private sectors working together in the current crisis.
Andrea Green, accountable officer for NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group said: “The decision to open Bramhall Manor will ensure we are able to continue to provide high quality care for patients, during one of the most challenging times the NHS and Social Care has ever faced.
“I want to pay tribute to the huge local effort in responding to the Coronavirus pandemic and we are all immensely proud of the work of frontline and support staff, and local volunteers, which enables us to continue providing care across Stockport communities.”
Cath Fairhurst, chief operating officer at New Care added: “Coronavirus has put significant pressure on the NHS, and the current situation has also highlighted the shortfall of beds in hospital - many of which are used by stable patients who have been medically discharged but require rehabilitation before returning home.
“Often there is nowhere for these patients to go, so they remain in hospital.”
“We are pleased we can support local partners in managing the current crisis, and looking to the future, provide much needed care home beds to deal with the longer-term implications of the more vulnerable patients.”
Bramhall Manor is a purpose built care facility - work on which was completed just last month.
It boasts more than 70 fully furnished private rooms, each with en suite facilities, as well as extensive gardens.
Coun Jude Wells, Stockport council’s cabinet member for health and adult social care, has hailed the partnership between the town hall, the NHS and care providers.
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She said: “I’m a big supporter of the social care sector, they’re doing an absolutely sterling job.
“If you think where we were two weeks ago - and what we have had to do it’s just immense.”
Her colleague, Coun David Meller added: “I liken this to our own little NHS Nightingale - it’ll certainly help take some pressure off Stepping Hill.”
Patients transferred from Stepping Hill to Bramhall Manor will continue to receive their care from a team of nurses, GPs and social care staff in order to enable them to return home once they are ready.
The commissioning of the home is part of Stockport’s boroughwide plan for tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.