Even if you don’t have empty beds it’s important you sign up to the capacity tracker. As the need for hospital beds increases over the next weeks, care homes and nursing homes will be relied on to accept new admissions. The capacity tracker supports a national response to the COVID-19 pandemic by clearly showing the demand on services and availability of beds in each area. We have summarised some key points for you to register with the capacity tracker. You can download the summary here.
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Alternatively, you can read the summary here:
What is Capacity Tracker?
Even if you don’t have empty beds it’s important you sign up to the capacity tracker. As the need for hospital beds increases over the next weeks, care homes and nursing homes will be relied on to accept new admissions. The capacity tracker supports a national response to the COVID-19 pandemic by clearly showing the demand on services and availability of beds in each area. It is an important part of business continuity planning not only at national level but within your service too. It will enable you to get support if you are having difficulties and can signpost you to additional resources within its resource centre.
B. What info do you need to register with capacity tracker?
You will be asked for 6 pieces of information
• Your email
• Your full name
• Your contact number
• Your job title
• Your user type ( this is explained)
• Provider type e.g. care home, NHS
You can register more than one home.
C. What action do you need to take?
• Register via Capacity Tracker website at: https://carehomes.necsu.nhs.uk/. There are videos to help
• All care homes, all hospices (including children’s hospices) and all providers of inpatient community rehabilitation and end of life care MUST input the information specified into Capacity Tracker ASAP -Guidance states 1st April 2020 but it’s not too late
• Only use the capacity tracker even if you have other tools
• Update the tracker when there are changes and at least daily. Only vacancies and business continuity info are required on the updates
• Sign up to NHSmail if you haven’t already done so. QCS has produced an Action card on this
• Reassure your staff that you have procedures in place to manage the admissions
• Communicate with residents and their families to explain how new admissions will be managed to ensure their wellbeing is a priority
• Read Admission and Care of Residents during COVID-19 Incident in a Care Home (2 April 2020)
• If you are not QCS customer, review and update your Admission policy, your PPE policy and barrier nursing policy
• If you are a QCS customer, your policies are up to date in the COVID-19 hub