Community assessment and treatment units
The community assessment and treatment units (CATUs) and older people’s assessment units are now live at the following sites:
- Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, open 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm
- Bodmin Community Hospital, open 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm
- West Cornwall Hospital (accepting from Camborne west), open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
CATU inclusion criteria
Frailty syndrome:
- falls
- dementia
- delirium
- functional decline
- poor mobility
- care home resident
- Parkinson’s disease
Frailty score of 5 or more is a guide. Older people with frailty syndrome and lower frailty score (2, 3 or 4) may still be considered appropriate for CATU.
Ceiling of care would be community hospital. A completed community treatment escalation plan is desirable but not mandatory for admission
CATU care is also appropriate for locality older patients with frailty syndromes or low-risk medical problems (NEWS2 less than 4) who would be for escalation.
Imminent end of life situations that cannot be cared for at home and are not for escalation.
If you have concerns about a patient who you feel would benefit from a rapid assessment and treatment plan, close to home, from a multi-professional team please make a referral to the CATUs through;
- acute GP (In hours) on 01872 226 263
- 111 (out of hours) via 111*5
Both COVID positive and negative patients will be accepted for assessment. If the patient has symptoms, please ensure the acute GP is aware so we can manage beds and hot and cold areas.
Rural service network feature on our community treatment and assessment units
In July 2020, the rural service network published an article about the accelerated launch of CATUs in response to COVID-19.