RBKC - community equipment changes.

Community equipment update

A walking stick on prescription

In May 2011 the Royal Borough in partnership with NHS Kensington and Chelsea began work to introduce a new way of providing equipment to residents who need help with daily personal tasks. This is called 'community equipment'.
Community equipment includes simple items such as a bath board to help a person get in and out of the bath, or a raised toilet seat to help someone get on and off a toilet. More complex equipment includes items such as a battery powered hoist to help someone who has difficulty standing to get in and out of bed. These items support people to manage everyday tasks independently in their own homes.
This equipment is currently issued on loan to people who are eligible by the Council’s current provider of equipment – Medequip Ltd. The changes being introduced only include simple items of community equipment which tend to be items with a value of less than £100. Complex items will continue to be provided on loan via Medequip.
This is a Government initiative which has already been successfully started in other London boroughs by the Department of Health. We are introducing this later than others so that we can benefit from their experience.

What does this mean for people who require community equipment?

People who are eligible for equipment following an assessment by Health and Social Services will continue to have their equipment needs assessed by suitably trained staff as they do now. However, once the assessment is complete they will be issued with a prescription for simple equipment, which can be redeemed free of charge at an accredited retailer. People will have the option of paying extra for their equipment if they prefer something more to their own taste - this is known as topping up their prescription – so that they have a greater choice in the equipment they receive. Those who receive equipment via a prescription own the equipment and it does not need to be returned to the Council once it’s no longer needed. This new scheme is called the “Retail model”.
Some residents do not wish to be assessed for equipment, or do not meet the eligibility threshold to have equipment provided. The retail model will also support these residents to buy equipment, because the items will be more visible and accessible in the local community through advertising and shop-floor placement.
The plan is to start issuing prescriptions for simple aids to daily living in October 2011 and over the next few months our work will include developing:

• a catalogue of simple equipment available at accredited retailers
• a paper prescription
• an information leaflet
• a list/map of accredited retailers

We will also be visiting local retailers who are interested in supplying community equipment as part of the accreditation process. Most of those interested are local pharmacies.
If you would like to speak to someone about this initiative please contact Lisa Cavanagh (TCES Business Change Manager)
Phone: 020 7361 3241
email: lisa.cavanagh@rbkc.gov.uk

http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/healthandsocialcare/peoplefirst/gettingintouch/thisjustin/communityequipmentupdate.aspx