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West Essex Hospital at Home

Hospital-level care closer to home.

Summary

The West Essex Hospital at Home service provides high-quality acute level hospital care in the comfort of a patient’s own home. The service is designed for adults who would otherwise require a hospital stay, but whose treatment can be safely and effectively managed at home by a specialist clinical team.

This prevents or reduces time spent in hospital and promotes recovery in a familiar, comfortable environment.

Contact details

Contact the West Essex Hospital at Home Service via the West Essex Care Coordination Centre:
0300 123 543 option 4
Email:
[email protected]
Address:

West Essex Care Coordination Centre,
Epping Forest Unit, St Margaret’s Hospital
The Plain
Epping
CM16 6TN
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 8am to 8pm

Service Information

Who can use this service?
This service is suitable for patients who:

  • Require ongoing clinical care, monitoring, or support
  • Meet the criteria for safe home-based treatment

The Hospital at Home team works closely with hospital wards and integrated community teams to identify suitable patients and ensure a smooth transition to care at home.

What to expect

Care is delivered through a combination of remote monitoring and face-to-face visits overseen by two Consultants alongside Advanced Clinical Practitioners:

  • Remote monitoring includes daily telephone check-ins and the use of clinical equipment to monitor vital signs and questionnaires to track progress.
  • Face-to-face care involves home visits by nurses, doctors (when required) and other clinicians to deliver treatment, assess the patient’s condition, and adjust care plans as needed.

This blended model ensures that patients receive timely, flexible, and effective care while remaining safe at home.

Clinical Testing at Home

Portable clinical equipment is used to carry out routine observations and tests, equivalent to those offered in a hospital setting. Patients only need to attend hospital for specialist procedures such as scans or X-rays, which help consultants optimise ongoing treatment.

Integrated Care

The service works in coordination with GPs, community healthcare providers, and social care teams to ensure a seamless, joined-up care experience. Once the patient has recovered, they are discharged back into the care of their GP or community team.

Referral Information

Referrals to the West Essex Hospital at Home service are made via the Care Coordination Centre (CCC).

Healthcare professionals should contact the CCC to submit a referral or discuss a potential case. The CCC will liaise with the Hospital at Home team to assess the patient’s suitability and coordinate their care.

In line with a No Wrong Door approach, if a patient is not suitable for Hospital at Home, the team will support the referrer in identifying a more appropriate service. Every referral is reviewed, and onward support is provided to ensure no patient is left without care.

Care Coordination Centre (CCC) Contact:
0300 123 5433 Option 4
[email protected]

Frequently asked questions

Once referred, the patient is assessed through a clinical triage process by the service’s doctors and clinical practitioners. A personalised care plan is then developed in coordination with the referring team or professional.

  • Required medications and clinical equipment are delivered directly to the patient’s home.
  • A schedule of home visits is arranged to begin treatment and ongoing monitoring where required.
  • A multidisciplinary team holds daily meetings to review patient care and ensure safe continuation of treatment.

The team uses portable equipment to perform clinical assessments, including:

  • Blood pressure
  • Oxygen saturation
  • Heart rate
  • Respiratory rate
  • Blood tests

These results are reviewed regularly by the medical team. If further investigations such as scans or X-rays are required, arrangements will be made for the patient to attend hospital for those procedures as an outpatient.

Patients receive daily contact from the clinical team via phone to review their condition and update their care plan. In-person visits are arranged as needed. If additional support is required, the team coordinates referrals to appropriate health or social care services.

Once the patient’s condition has stabilised and they have fully recovered, they are discharged back into the care of their GP or community healthcare provider.

Information Leaflet