Urgent Community Response (UCR)

UCR (Urgent Community Response) is a dedicated crisis response team of Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Nurses, Therapists, Advanced Practitioners, Health Care Assistant and Admin who work with patients to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital by providing a rapid intervention delivered within two hours. 

The aim of the Kirklees Urgent Community Response Service (UCR) service is to accelerate the treatment of urgent care needs closer to home and prevent avoidable hospital admissions. 

UCR will follow up at home, if required to provide short term therapy and support to reduce the risk of re-admission carrying out a holistic assessment of nursing and therapy needs. 

Who is it for? 

Any resident of Kirklees who is registered with a Kirklees GP and over 18 years old age that is in suspected crisis and requires a 0-2hour medical intervention to avoid an unnecessary admission to hospital. 

What may cause a person to experience a crisis? 

• A clinical condition such as: a new or acute problem (such as an infection); or an exacerbation of a chronic condition, where the condition can be safely treated out of hospital, but where the functional consequences may mean that the individual is at risk of hospital admission. 
• Serious illness, where treatment at home is in keeping with the person’s wishes as part of a pre-agreed treatment escalation plan, advance care plan, advanced decision to refuse treatment. The patient may wish to be treated at home or their usual place of residence in a crisis, rather than being admitted to hospital. 
• A social care crisis, such as the breakdown of unpaid carer arrangements, which causes an immediate health risk to the individual. 

The following list is not meant to be exhaustive or used to exclude patients. 

These are common clinical conditions or needs that may lead to a patient requiring a two-hour response in a crisis. 

• Fall                 
• Decompensation of frailty 
• Reduced function/ deconditioning/ reduced mobility 
• Palliative/end of life crisis support 
• Urgent Equipment provision 
• Confusion/ delirium 
• Unpaid carer breakdown 

Please contact Locala SPOC (0300 304 5555) in relation to urgent catheter and diabetes care. 

Exclusions 

• The patient is acutely unwell or injured & the patient requires emergency care intervention and admission to an acute hospital immediately. 
• Is experiencing a mental health crisis and requires referral/assessment by a specialist mental health team. 
• Where the major reason for referral is a drug or alcohol related problem, requiring mental health input.  
• Needs acute/complex diagnostics and clinical intervention for patient safety in a hospital setting. 
• Pregnancy related complications 
• No consent obtained from patient  
• Patient requires respite or long term care needs 

What We Do 

We carry out a full holistic assessment to determine what support is required and then make all the necessary referrals to put that support in place. It could be extra nursing care, physio, help with medication, equipment or support from charities such as Age UK. 

We work as an alliance provider alongside Local Care Direct, Curo Health Ltd, Local Authority and the Integrated Care Board. We also refer into other Locala teams, Secondary Care and other agencies, to ensure the right care is provided. We provide support for our patients to ensure all the relevant referrals have been completed for continuation of care.  

Referrals 

The Kirklees Urgent Community Response is available seven days a week. 

The Kirklees Urgent Community Response referral line is open from 8am-5.30pm, with face-to-face appointments available from 8.00am until 8pm. 

Please note that self-referrals cannot be accepted unless the patient has been seen by the service in the previous 30 days. 

A referral can be made by calling 01484 443935.