Intermediate care services

Intermediate care is the care that is provided to people following their hospital treatment and to help people remain in their own home to avoid unnecessary admission to hospital, so they can quickly regain their independence.

Intermediate care services provide care for patients requiring short term help following discharge from an acute hospital. The service is an alternative to hospital care for patients who are able to leave hospital early, but who still need some short-term help in a community bed, for example after a fall or following an illness or surgery.   

Inpatient intermediate care is provided at East Cheshire NHS Trust through the following units:

• Aston Unit,Congleton War Memorial Hospital
• Langley Unit, Macclesfield District General Hospital
• Tatton Unit, Knutsford Community Hospital - temporarily closed until further notice.
• Belong Healthcare Village, Macclesfield
• Hollins View Community Support Centre, Macclesfield

About the Aston and Langley Units

Aston Unit is based at Congleton War Memorial Hospital in Congleton and has 28 beds. Langley Unit is based at Macclesfield District General Hospital and has 30 beds.

Both units provide intermediate care to help people become more independent through a rehabilitation programme and specific treatment that each person requires for a period of one to six weeks. The aim of the unit is to create and support an environment which allows our patients to achieve their maximum potential by providing a multidisciplinary team approach, person- centered care and individual programs of therapy which are carried out by a friendly, professional and highly skilled team. 

From the moment you are admitted onto the unit the nursing staff will identify both short and long term goals with you which will help map your progress. These goals will also help to identify and address any potential problems at the earliest opportunity. The unit prides itself on high standards of care and the excellent results which it strives to achieve with patients.

Aston Unit comprises of four six bedded bays, two single and one double side room. Langley Unit comprises of six four bedded bays, and six side rooms. The use of the side rooms is decided on a clinical or priority basis. Each unit has single sex washrooms which are designed to enable the nursing and therapy staff to help get patients back into a daily routine.

The team on the Aston Unit

Consultant: Dr Davison, Consultant Physician and Care of the Elderley. Dr Davison heads the team Monday to Friday and carries out a ward round every Tuesday. She is supported by Dr Mong and Dr Haj-Najib who visit the unit daily Monday to Friday.
 
Outside of these hours the unit uses the local ‘out of hours’ GP service should any medical issues arise which cannot safely wait until the consultant’s next visit.

Senior sister: Dawn Oldacre, Aston Unit 

Junior Sister: Marilyn Sleeman 

In addition to Marilyn and Gillian, there is a full team of nursing and support staff to assist with care.

The team on the Langley Unit

Consultants: Dr Davison and Dr. Japanwala, Consultant Physicians in Medicine
 
The consultant is supported by a team of three doctors, one registrar, one senior house officer and one junior house officer. The team will review the Consultants patient daily during the week. They also take part in the “on calls”, therefore are not all present on the ward each day. 

Senior sister: Michelle Gillespie
 
Junior Sister: Laura Atherton
 
In addition to Michelle and Laura, there is a full team of nursing and support staff to assist with care.
 
Tissue viability nurse specialist: Specialised in the prevention and management of pressure sores/ulcers and wound dressings.
 
Discharge co-ordinator: We assist with your discharge planning if required.
 
Phlebotomist (technician skilled in taking blood) visit daily to collect blood samples requested by the medical team. If the phlebotomist are not available the nursing staff will do this.
 
Student nurses may be on placement on the unit. There are also work experience students on the ward from the age of 16 years upwards.

Other staff you might meet on both units

Matron: Debbie Burgess is the matron for intermediate and stroke care. It is the matron's role to ensure that quality standards of care are maintained and she can be seen on a regular basis auditing the unit with the Infection Control Team and Housekeeper to ensure optimal cleaning standards are achieved.
 
Occupational therapist: The occupational therapist provides specialist treatment to enable a safe and successful transition back into the community. 

Physiotherapist: The aim of the Physiotherapy Team is to provide a specialised treatment plan which will enable patients to achieve their maximum physical potential.
 
Social worker: There is a social worker attached to the unit who is able to assist with the discharge process and any issues concerning discharge. The social worker is also able to advise or welfare rights, housing issues and appropriate support groups.
 
Unit Clerk: Assists with the daily running and administration of the ward.
 
Housekeeper: Supports the maintenance of cleanliness and ordering of supplies and facilitates the smooth running of the ward. The housekeeper can be identified by a lilac tunic.
 
Domestic and Portering Team: Their high standards are reflected in the cleanliness of all areas on the ward. The domestic staff are identified by their turquoise tunics and the porters by navy polo shirts.

Nursing staff uniforms

• Black pinstripe - matron
• Navy - unit manager or unit sister
• White and royal blue - senior staff nurse or staff nurse
• Red and black - rehabilitation assistant
• White and yellow piping - healthcare assistant

Visit the who's who section for more information

Protective clothing

In accordance with infection control procedures, staff wear colour coded aprons appropriate for the procedure they are undertaking:

• White - general clinical duties
• Green - mealtimes or serving drinks
• Blue - sterile clinical procedures
• Yellow - for care intervention with patients who have a know infection.

Hand washing

Infection control is an issue at the forefront of most people’s minds when coming into hospital. To help the unit stop infection please wash your hands on arrival and departure, you will find a sink located at the entrance of the unit. Alcohol gel dispensers are also strategically located throughout the unit.
 
You are also encouraged to ask nursing and clinical staff if they have washed their hands prior to examination.

More information

Aston Unit

The unit telephone numbers are:

Nurses office: 01260 294838
Fax number: 01260 291438
Customer services: 01625 661449

The unit manager is available each Tuesday following the Multidisciplinary Team meeting to discuss up to date progress and any other issues you wish to discuss.

Langley Unit

The unit telephone numbers are: 01625 661010/1068
 
If relatives are ringing to enquire about your condition please nominate one of your family members to be a single point of contact to reduce the numbers of calls to the ward.
 
If you would like to arrange an appointment to see either consultant, please contact the secretary direct from Monday to Friday.

Dr Davison’s secretary: 01625 663097 

Please note that the consultant cannot discuss patient care/treatment over the telephone due to patient confidentiality.

The ward telephone numbers are:

Nurses office: 01260 294838
Fax number: 01260 291438
Customer services: 01625 661449

The unit manager is available each Tuesday following the Multidisciplinary Team meeting to discuss up to date progress and any other issues you wish to discuss.

Tatton Unit

The Tatton Unit is temporarily closed until further notice.