AN initiative to promote independence in patients being released from hospital has won a national award.
The Improving Patient Discharge and Promoting Independence scheme being run at Trowbridge Hospital has been given an Innovations and Best Practice Award by the Community Hospitals Association.
Barbara Moore, chief executive of the association, said: "The standard of submissions was very high. We were very impressed with the Trowbridge project. They did really well."
More than 30 hospitals across England, Wales and Scotland put in a bid for the award and Trowbridge was one of just eight selected.
The scheme aims to reduce the number of long-term admissions to care homes from hospital and to support patients on return to their own homes.
The hospital now has the lowest average patient stay in west Wiltshire and has increased its admission and discharge rates by almost a third, making more hospital beds available for people to be treated locally.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article