Shipley MP says Bradford scheme can lead way on reducing NHS backlog

The Member of Parliament for Shipley has suggested today that Bradford Council's home assessment support scheme could serve as a model for NHS innovations aimed at reducing backlogs nationwide.

During a speech in the House of Commons, Anna Dixon MP praised the scheme, which focuses on facilitating quicker hospital discharges. This allows patients to return home and receive assessments for any necessary ongoing care services in the comfort of their own homes. 

Since the introduction of the Home FAST programme, more than 76% of people have had a positive outcome, and over 800 beds have been saved, allowing more beds to be available in hospitals for urgent care.

Her comments came the same day the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, outlined the new Labour government's comprehensive plan to address NHS waiting times.

The Labour Party leader announced a wide range of modernising reforms, including upgrading the NHS app and giving patients more choice over where they are treated to cut waiting times down from 18 months to a maximum of 18 weeks, something the last government failed to achieve in over a decade.

Speaking in Parliament to Josh Fenton-Glynn, the Member of Parliament for Calder Valley, Anna Dixon said: “In my constituency, Bradford council’s Home FAST—first assessment support—scheme aims to get people home from hospital more quickly and to be assessed for any onward care services when they are at home. 

“Since its launch, there has been a large reduction in the need for intermediate care facilities after hospital care. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that such innovations need to be at the heart of the Government’s 10-year plan, ensuring that we integrate health and social care, as he was saying, but perhaps also looking to revise the better care fund so that it delivers both rapid discharge and rehabilitation, which are obviously both critical to tackling NHS backlogs?”

In response, Josh Fenton-Glynn said: “In fact, the better care fund works best in West Yorkshire when it works to hasten people’s journey out of hospital, and that sounds like a very good example.”