CARE received by a Penarth woman after a fall is proof that unnecessary hospital admissions are being avoided, the health board has said.

Instead of being taken to hospital, Mary Jones was referred to the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board's Community Resource Team (CRT) following her fall.

The CRT work closely with GPs and the emergency unit to ensure patients are either seen at home following an urgent referral from their GP or taken home from the emergency unit, whether this is to prevent an unnecessary hospital admission or enable a discharge at the weekend.

Many patients that are diverted to the CRT from the emergency unit have experienced a fall so they have access to a comprehensive falls management programme to help them to regain their confidence and reduce their risk of future falls.

Mrs Jones said she was "terrified" to do anything before the team came out to see her.

She said: "It was the fear of falling that held me back but since working with the Community Resource Team I can now walk into my kitchen without using my frame which I never thought I would be able to do.

"My confidence is getting stronger and I have a friend that comes in and helps me to complete my exercises every day which is helping me to get better.

"I’m happy now and I feel so much better that I can do things without thinking about it and I can’t thank the team enough for their support."

During 2015, the CRTs saw over 2,000 patients in a primary care setting which prevented unnecessary hospital stays and admissions.

The extra resource has meant 245 additional patients have been supported by the CRTs at weekends and bank holidays during the first six months of the expansion.

Sue Morgan, director of operations for primary community and intermediate care at Cardiff and Vale UHB said;

“The additional staff in the Community Resource Teams means that more people are able to either return home from hospital earlier or avoid hospital admission in the first place. The CRTs are well placed to work with individuals and provide the extra support that is needed to help them to regain their independence following an illness or injury.”

The teams work with a variety of patients over 18 years of age who require care and support at home and may have conditions such as fractures, strokes, Parkinson’s Disease, MS, road traffic accidents or a life limiting condition.