Who is the service for?
The Navigator Service on the NMGH Hospital Site assists clients who are medically fit to be discharged from hospital, however, they may not be safe to return home for various reasons. These reasons can include mobility problems, difficulties with personal and domestic care, preparing meals or drinks, experiencing falls or frequent attendances to hospital due to long term conditions.
What does the service provide?
A holistic assessment that takes into consideration all aspects of your ability and your wishes relating to your discharge from hospital. This can include arranging an emergency temporary placement, referrals to Intermediate Care facilities, community crisis response teams or requesting urgent care packages for home. We may simply check how you are feeling in comparison to how you normally feel and manage at home and re-start any care packages or arrangements already in place.
We refer to a number of community teams such as Social Services, Intermediate Care, District Nurses, Active Case managers and Community Physiotherapy/OT, in order to continue your progress at home and support you in the community.
We also assess for and provide walking aids and some pieces of equipment that may be essential to make a discharge safe.
Our main aim is to ensure patients are supported and safe when they are discharged from a short stay in hospital, normally from A&E or the Medical Assessment Unit.
Who will patients meet?
The team is diverse multi-disciplinary, consisting of staff from Acute Nursing, Community Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Paramedic and Social Work backgrounds.
You will typically just meet one Navigator. We all work in the same role and way and are trusted generic assessors. We sometimes work together or with one of our Assistant Practitioners.
You may be visited at home following your discharge by one of our team if felt appropriate or one of our Assistant Practitioners.
When is the service available?
The Service operates 9am till 9pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 9am till 5pm on Bank Holidays.
Where is the service provided?
The service is based with the Integrated Discharge Team on Ward D3 at North Manchester General Hospital.
The doctor or nurse looking after you will make us aware an assessment is required and we will attend the ward you are on and assess you here. Most likely in A&E or MEU.
Department contact details
Telephone: 0161 922 3324
Fax: 0161 720 2681
Bleep numbers 4040 / 4700
Key staff/consultants
Service Manager Gillian McAllister, Directorate Manager Urgent Care, North Manchester.