Gateshead’s Rapid Response team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The number to reach us is 01914458400.
The team is located in Bensham and provides a service for all adults aged 18 and over with physical health problems, who are registered with a Gateshead GP. This includes people who live in care homes.
The rapid response team is made up of skilled nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and rehabilitation assistants.
Anyone can refer with patient consent, including patients and relatives.
Providing details about the patient and their current problem will enable the team to triage the problem, allocate it to the best professional to complete the assessment at home, and give an estimated response time.
If the complaint is not suitable for our service, we can signpost you to an alternative service.
Our service aims to provide a two hour rapid response to patients in a crisis at home, to prevent hospital admission.
We also provide a two day response time for people requiring rehabilitation.
Our aim is to prevent deterioration in people with health and wellbeing needs, as well as supporting early discharge from hospital.
We provide assessment and intervention of acute minor illnesses or new injuries.
This includes new or exacerbated conditions and administration of intravenous antibiotics.
We also work to promote independence for those with physical health problems by completing a functional assessment, and supporting individuals to achieve their goals.
Between 8 p.m, and 8 a.m, we also take referrals for care that would normally be completed by district nurses during the day,
including palliative nursing care, symptom control and support.
The common problems we often support with are: new confusion, respiratory infections and exacerbations, urinary retention and infections, skin and joint infections, unplanned wound care, diarrhoea or constipation, falls, abdominal pain, unplanned catheter complications, functional decline in mobility or daily tasks.
Unfortunately, we are unable to support people that are acutely unwell or injured, requiring emergency care intervention, complex tests, or those in need of a specialist mental health team.
Call handlers will direct you to the most appropriate service.
Once our initial assessment is complete, we will devise an agreed, patient centered treatment plan.
The team may remain involved for monitoring or rehabilitation.
They may also signpost to other services including escalation to hospital if required.
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