A specialist service at County Hospital in Stafford that helps older patients avoid unnecessary hospital stays has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
The Frailty Assessment Unit (FAU) has been named as one of four finalists across the UK in the Parliamentarian’s Choice category of the Parliamentary Pathfinder NHS Innovation Adoption Awards, following a nomination by Stafford MP Leigh Ingham.
First opened in November 2024, the unit provides rapid assessment and care for older patients arriving at County Hospital’s Emergency Department. A combined team of doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and social care professionals work together to evaluate patients and help them return home safely as quickly as possible.
Freeing up beds and cutting hospital stays
Recent figures from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) highlight the impact of the service, with 86 per cent of patients referred to the unit returning home on the same day.
With patients spending an average of just 4.1 hours in the unit, the team prevents around 25 inpatient hospital admissions and saves more than 200 hospital bed days every single week.
Dr Alice Holt, emergency medical consultant, said: “For the team this recognition is a real celebration of what can be achieved through collaboration, innovation and a shared determination to improve care for people living with frailty.
“We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved at County Hospital and most importantly of the difference we are striving to make for our patients and their families.”
Stafford MP Leigh Ingham welcomed the shortlisting, saying: “Excellent work is being done by the Frailty Assessment Unit at County Hospital to support older residents in our communities. I was very happy to nominate the team, and I am so pleased that they are getting the recognition they deserve. Here is hoping for the win!”
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Permanent service expansion
Following two successful pilot schemes, the unit secured permanent funding as a five-day service and has continued to develop.
The service recently introduced specialist pharmacy support to carry out targeted medication reviews for older patients, helping to avoid drug-related complications and promoting safe discharges.
Claire Hopley, workstream management lead for the County Hospital Strategic Programme, said: “What started as an idea has taken a huge amount of work and persistence to become the service we have today. The team has always kept patients at the centre, so it is fantastic to see their hard work recognised nationally.”
Professor Aruna Garcia, deputy chief medical officer, added that the national nomination reflects the dedication of staff working together to improve care across the hospital.
The national winner of the Parliamentarian’s Choice Award will be announced at a ceremony in London on Monday 16 November 2026.
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