Reducing hospital readmissions with WiFi Spark

Autumna, is excited to announce that, through a new partnership deal with hospital wifi provider Wifi SPARK, inpatients, outpatients, hospital visitors and discharge teams will have easier access to its shortlisting service.

Launched on August 21st 2023, the service which accesses and filters Autumna’s database of over 26,000 elder care providers, now appears on Wifi SPARK’s SPARK®Media platform which is in 73% of NHS hospitals throughout the UK.

Speaking about the launch, Debbie Harris, founder of Autumna, said: “This is a big step forward, not only for Autumna, but for the care providers who promote their services on our site and especially for care seekers who want to take a proactive stance when it comes to preventing readmission to hospital.”

“21% of the enquiries that currently come through to our advice line,” continues Harris, “come from people already in a hospital bed and looking for care.

“Each night they spend in that bed costs the NHS £400 and it’s not unusual for us to speak to care seekers who have been waiting to be discharged for 30 days or more.

“With Autumna on SPARK®Media, they can start thinking about and planning their onward care from the moment they walk into the hospital and log onto the wifi network.”

As has been widely reported, NHS England is currently looking to make ‘massive changes’ in the way emergency care is delivered through community services and by supporting older people.

Autumna’s partnership with WiFi SPARK represents one of those changes, giving older care seekers easier access to the information they need to make the right choices for their lifestyle and individual needs.

“We’ll be in every one of the hospitals in which WiFi SPARK operates,” says Harris. “To give you an idea of the scale, in Guys and St Thomas’s last month alone, over 500,000 logged on to the SPARK®Media platform. If we can help just 1% of those people with our shortlisting service, we’ll be making a significant contribution to preventing readmissions, easing patient flow and so releasing the pressure on overburdened discharge teams.

WiFi SPARK's collaboration with Autumna’s comprehensive care provider directory demonstrates the power of partnership in transforming patient care and discharge processes within healthcare.

By leveraging the capabilities of both organisations, hospitals can achieve significant improvements in patient outcomes, staff efficiency, and patient experience.

ENDS.

Notes for editors:

Initial launch of the service will be across the following NHS Trusts:

• Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
• East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
• Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
• Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
• Mid-Cheshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust
• University Hospitals of North Midlands

Autumna provides completely impartial advice and does not take referral fees from providers. It aims to improve transparency and standards across the entire care for older people sector. Following its establishment in 2019, over 2.5 million care seekers each year now access Autumna’s directory of over 26,000 care providers.

To find out more contact Debbie Harris on 01892 335330 or email: debbie@autumna.co.uk

WiFi SPARK is actively seeking partners to put their innovative healthcare applications in front of patients and staff who need them, through the SPARK® Media entertainment and engagement platform.

To find out more contact James Morriss on 0344 848 9555 or email: james.morriss@wifispark.com