Innovation Commercialisation Manager at InnoScot Health, Frances Ramsay, reflects on frailty services investment and what it means for innovation opportunities

In the past, the prospect of arriving at one of NHS Scotland’s busy A&E departments too often meant cold comfort for the frail and vulnerable after an unexpected fall or other accident.

Such occurrences would typically result in a wait to be seen, followed by a potentially protracted hospital stay.

Now, with all 30 of Scotland’s emergency departments boosted by having frailty services on hand to support older patients as soon as they arrive at hospital, in turn aiming to provide rapid, comprehensive geriatric assessments, it could be nothing less than transformative.

The potential to allow these patients to bypass A&E and spend less time in hospital makes a difference on so many levels. Less pressure is placed on the health service, beds are freed up, and patients can return under supervision to the comfort of their own homes, often speeding recovery.

This expansion of frailty services, providing specialist, multidisciplinary assessment and care for older patients where required, is a huge step in the right direction for a society now expecting people to live increasingly longer lives — and with winter just around the corner, it is very good timing.

That feeling of cold comfort which might have been experienced before can now be replaced by the sense of a warmer reception at A&E.

Nevertheless, with some 35 per cent of the population over 65 identified as mildly frail, 15 per cent moderately frail, and five per cent severely frail, acceleration of dedicated, further meaningful change remains much needed in this priority area of Scottish healthcare.

Frailty services can be key to that. These staff members are primarily there to help accelerate early discharge, reduce delays, and shorten hospital stays — but they are also uniquely well placed to help effect wider progress.

Certainly, they also have a key role to play in bringing about a wider shift in the balance of care from acute hospitals to community-based services, helping to ensure that people experiencing frailty are supported earlier, whether through GP referral or direct access via the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Therefore, their presence “at the front door of every A&E” as First Minister John Swinney put it, and wider remit, is not only necessary, but represents a significant opportunity.

While the reasons behind investment in frailty specialists are clear, members of this vital part of the workforce are also in a great position to spot fresh avenues of innovation.

Indeed, every day, frailty services will accrue an incredible amount of knowledge and insight on the best, most efficient ways to treat the patients in their care.

If properly empowered and supported, they can become frontline agents of change, helping to spot new ideas and modifications to current practice which could make a world of difference for improved outcomes and cost savings.

They can also help to inform the expansion of other frailty services in the community with an injection of fresh ideas, such as Hospital at Home services with their vast potential.

The potential to inspire and tap into progressive thinking in frailty is an exciting prospect in accelerating the move to a significantly more innovation-driven, proactive model of care for Scotland.

InnoScot Health is seeking ideas from health and social care professionals that can help transform the quality of life for people living with frailty, while helping NHS Scotland adapt to changing demographics and increase in service use as people become frailer.