Social prescribing to support REACT services across Ipswich and East Suffolk

In Ipswich and east Suffolk locally, we have a 2 hour Urgent Community Response (UCR) team known as REACT - Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team.

REACT is a multi-agency team (health, social care and VCS) to reduce avoidable Emergency Department (ED) attendances /admissions by providing short term support for adults (18 years +) in crisis situations.

Urgent assessment can be arranged within 2 hours and REACT can access an Interface Geriatrician via the Frailty Assessment Base (FAB) and step up to community beds as needed.

It provides a short-term primary, secondary and community care approach for patients with nursing needs, to be treated in their own home and to prevent an acute admission.

REACT comprises nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, health care assistants, generic workers, British Red Cross and Suffolk Family Carers support workers.

As part of the Urgent Community Response (UCR), this model aims to enhance the patient experience within the Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team (REACT) by introducing social prescribing to the multi-disciplinary teams across the 3 hubs in Ipswich, Stowmarket and Woodbridge.

The model will provide additional support and capacity that offers more holistic management of a person's crisis episode and less focus on medical management, leading to a more sustainable and proactive care model.