Urgent Community Response (UCR)
Did you know you can refer patients to local Urgent Community Response?
Our Urgent Community Response (UCR) service helps people with often complex health needs stay out of hospital by responding to a crisis in someone’s home, including residential and care homes. They are a crucial service, both in helping people maintain their independence, and in easing the pressure on acute and emergency services.
The team have a wide range of skills, including advanced clinical practitioners, specialist nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, therapy assistants and carers.
The 2UCR team provide urgent care within two hours to people across Sutton (both in their own homes and within care homes) experiencing a medical crisis. The aim is to keep people independent preventing an avoidable hospital admission.
The service is for adult patients, over the age of 18, with a Sutton GP who without an urgent response will, most likely, be admitted to hospital within two to 24 hours. Examples of the crises patients may experience include:
- Falls without a bony injury or head injury requiring A and E assessment
- An acute infection – such as acute chest infection or urinary tract infection
- A chronic health condition that has got worse – such as a diabetic emergency
- Palliative patients with an advanced care plan where urgent treatment at home is in line with their wishes for end-of life-care
- Social crisis – for example a carer breakdown
The service is not intended for patients who are very seriously unwell and need emergency care in hospital. Patients who are triaged and are not suitable for the two hour response will be referred via the SPOR to other more appropriate services within Sutton Health and Care. If a patient needs emergency hospital care the 2UCR team will coordinate a safe transfer to hospital for an inpatient admission.
Make a referral
The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Referrals can be made by patients, carers, relatives, GPs and other health professionals.
Call the Single Point of Referral on 020 8296 4120. (This number is answered 24/7).