Abstract
Introduction: Frailty is a growing concern, particularly for older adults attending Emergency Departments (EDs). Frailty accounts for 5-10% of all ED visits and up to 30% of acute admissions1. The NHS mandates that hospitals with Type 1 EDs provide a minimum of 70 hours of Acute Frailty Services per week to address this challenge1. At Salford Royal Foundation Trust (SRFT), a Frailty Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service was introduced to deliver rapid assessment and care for frail older adults, aiming to reduce hospital admissions and improve patient outcomes2. This service operates five days per week and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team2. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the Frailty SDEC service3. Data was collected through paper surveys distributed to patients aged 65 years or older with a Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) >5 and their relatives or carers during their admission to the SDEC service24. The survey included both closed-ended and open-ended questions4. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis5. Results: A total of 32 responses were collected over a two-month period in 20244. The results showed high levels of patient and family satisfaction (97%) with the Frailty SDEC service35. Participants particularly valued the compassionate and personalized care, clear and professional communication, and the efficient and timely service delivery67. Areas for improvement included upgrading the physical environment and providing clearer communication about waiting times and procedures89. Conclusion: The Frailty SDEC service at SRFT demonstrates high levels of patient satisfaction and effectiveness in delivering care for frail older adults10. This evaluation provides valuable insights for enhancing patient-centered care and highlights the importance of further research to explore long-term outcomes and compare different models of SDEC services for older adults11