Report: Review of the Directed Enhanced Service provision for Care Homes in Newham
Enhanced services are defined as primary care services other than essential, out of hours and additional medical service and ensures residents receive consistent care and enable care homes, primary care networks and community service providers to build strong working relationships.
The service is offered to all GP practices nationally for residents living care homes are put in place to ensure that residents living in care accommodation should expect the same level of support as they would receive if they were living in their own homes.
The care home survey was co-developed by the Healthwatch NEL working together partnership. Each Healthwatch was tasked with engaging with care home in their respective boroughs. Of the list of 24 care homes contacted in Newham, 5 participated in the survey.
Key Findings
- 57% of care homes who participated catered to residents with learning disabilities and 29% catered to older residents.
- Many care homes contacted their assigned GP through phone and email. In person or virtual visits were less likely to be used.
- 80% of care homes noted that the GPs were very – somewhat responsive to their requests.
- 60% of care homes found the DES somewhat to very valuable
- 80% of home rounds were reported to occur at varying frequency with only 20% of care homes having these scheduled in regularly.
- 80% of managers felt comfortable contacting their GPs outside of home rounds and 60% of managers reported that care home staff felt involved in MDT meetings.
