Celebrating five years of community care in Hertfordshire

2024 marks five years since CLCH began delivering adult community services in Hertfordshire. During this time, the division has achieved remarkable success. To mark the occasion, here is a selection of highlights:

• At the height of the pandemic, CLCH pioneered the UK’s first Covid Virtual Hospital, in partnership with West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (WHTH), providing safe, holistic inpatient care to over 6,000 patients. Last year, the program was 'highly commended' at the national NHS Parliamentary Awards.
• On 1 September 2024, the Respiratory and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service launched an integrated respiratory care model in partnership with WHTH. Over 18 months, additional 14,500 appointments were delivered through consultant, nurse, and physiotherapist clinics, which reduced waiting times.
• The Speech and Language Therapy Service launched 'The Stavengers: Confidence Academy' delivering excellent outcomes for stammering support.
• In 2021, the heart failure virtual ward, was established, inspired by the success of the groundbreaking Virtual Hospital.
• Successfully hosted the Palliative Care Referrals Centre, supported by two hospices, with a Clinical Nurse Specialist triaging 15-25 (or more) referrals.
• Over the past 18 months, nearly 160 Cardiac Rehabilitation patients have benefited from the non-medical prescribing and the medication optimisation service. Recently, the service earned its first Quality Development Unit (QDU) accreditation.
• In 2022, the Unplanned Care team partnered with the Herts and West Essex ICB, East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST), Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) and Essex Partnership NHS Trust (EPUT) to develop an innovative pathway designed to reduce ambulance delays. The initiative led to faster response times and streamlined delivery of care.
• The Stroke Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Service which began over 10 years ago has evolved into a fully integrated community stroke service and has received over 700 referrals from acute care in the last year.
• Sarah Pryor, Advanced Physiotherapist in the bedded units, published a paper on fall reduction strategies in community hospitals through the National Audit of Intermediate Care (NAIF). The community rehab in-patient unit was shortlisted for the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Award.

Director of Operations, Leanne Fishwick said: "Celebrating five years as a division is a true reflection of the dedication, hard work, and commitment of every staff member. The perseverance, compassion, and conscientiousness of staff, providing unwavering care and guidance to patients during challenging times. Every staff member has contributed significantly to the ongoing improvement of our services over the years. Together, we have made remarkable strides, and it is their enduring support and determination that has brought us to this significant milestone. I would like to thank all staff in the Hertfordshire division for their exceptional contributions – here's to many more years of success and growth.”

Cardiac Rehabilitation team 

Heart Failure team

Palliative Care team

Integrated Community Stroke team