Hi-tech hospital flat kitted out with gadgets

A high-tech flat packed with gadgets and gizmos has been created at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to help frail and vulnerable patients maintain their independence.

Norfolk County Council's Adult Social Services department has been working with the Occupational Therapy team at NNUH to kit out the assessment flat with assistive technology designed to protect vulnerable people and allow them to continue living in their own homes.

The flat, next door to the hospital's stroke ward, has a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and assessment area and is used by Occupational Therapists to assess patients' needs and to help them overcome the effects of disability caused by physical or psychological illness.

The Occupational Therapy assessment unit has been kitted out by adult social services with assistive technology such as smoke, heat, natural gas, carbon monoxide and flood detectors linked to a community alarm centre, passive infra-red sensors that can play a message when someone walks past, medication boxes that bleep to remind people to take their medicines and a bed leaving sensor that switches on lights when someone gets up in the night.

Head of Occupational Therapy Services Tracey Fleming said: “Our trained OTs will assess eligible patients for equipment and order it through adult social services and this will allow some frail and vulnerable people to be discharged home from NNUH safely when they may previously have required residential or community hospital care.”

Chris Mowle, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services said: “This is an excellent example of Adult Social Services working in partnership with our health colleagues to help vulnerable adults in Norfolk.”

PHOTO CALL

Media representatives are invited to see the new assistive technology Occupational Therapy flat at NNUH on March 4 at 2.30pm.