Early Supported Discharge Service transfers to CLCH in Brent and Harrow

From 1 July 2026, the Short-Term Assessment, Reablement and Rehabilitation Service (STARRS) transferred from London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) to Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH). The service will now be known as the Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Service. 

The ESD Service is an integrated intermediate care service that supports people to leave hospital as soon as they are medically fit, enabling them to continue their recovery safely and independently at home. By providing rehabilitation and ongoing support in the community, the service helps reduce unnecessary hospital stays while delivering coordinated, person-centred care closer to home. 

The transfer of the ESD Service to CLCH strengthens the trust's community healthcare offer across Brent and Harrow. As part of CLCH, the service will work closely alongside our Hospital @ Home and Urgent Community Response (UCR) teams, creating more seamless pathways for patients and ensuring people receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place. Working together as part of one community provider will support better coordination of care and improve the experience of patients and their families. 

The transfer also reflects the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, which sets out a greater focus on delivering more care in community settings and supporting people to recover at home wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so. By bringing the service into CLCH, we are strengthening our ability to provide integrated, neighbourhood based care that helps people remain independent and reduces the need for longer hospital stays. 

As part of the transfer, we are delighted to welcome our new nursing colleagues to CLCH. Their skills, experience and commitment will be an important part of delivering high-quality, compassionate care across Brent and Harrow. 

Jackie Allain, Director of Operations at CLCH, said: “A warm welcome our new colleagues to CLCH as they join the Trust. This is an important step in strengthening our community services across Brent and Harrow and ensuring patients experience seamless, coordinated care as they move from hospital to home. 

"By working alongside our Hospital@Home and urgent community response teams, the Early Supported Discharge Service will play an important role in helping people recover safely in their own homes while reducing unnecessary time spent in hospital. This reflects the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and our shared ambition to deliver more care closer to home.”