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Services

Frailty Assessment Unit [FAU]

Overview –
The aim of the Frailty Assessment Unit is for patients that are frail and elderly that present to the Emergency Department with a clinical frailty score of 5 or more or presenting with frailty related issues contributing to the admission to be assessed comprehensively by the whole of the multi-disciplinary team to perform a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Between 5-10 per cent of all people attending the Emergency Department and 30 per cent of patients in Acute Medical Units are older people living with frailty. The FAU team comprises of a dedicated geriatric consultant, junior doctors, frailty advanced clinical practitioners, frailty clinical nurse specialists, registered nurses, higher level support workers, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, discharge coordinator, pharmacist, mental health services and social worker where required. A comprehensive geriatric assessment is completed on every patient that is transferred into FAU – this is NHS gold standard for the management of frailty in older people.

FAU also works concurrently with the frailty virtual ward to provide out of hospital care to patients living with frailty related issues that would otherwise require admission without virtual ward intervention. This service is accessed via the same referral process as FAU via internal bleep or telephone. A clinician will assess all referrals and advise on the best possible route of treatment.

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FAU is located within the SDEC department at Russells Hall Hospital.

 

Russells Hall Hospital

The unit is operational between 0630-1900, seven days a week. There are no strict visiting times in FAU and Patients are welcome to be accompanied by a representative. However, due to space constraints there must only be 1-2 visitors at any given time.

Contact number 01384 456111 ext
Internal bleep 8086.

Management team
• Dr Shahid Kausar – Clinical director
• Dr Shams Duja – Medical service head

Nursing leads
• Rachel Ormston – Matron
• Leanne Mann- Frailty ACP/ Clinical Service Lead for FAU.