Hospital at Home – Flu Season Support (applicable as of 10/12/2025)
Hospital at Home offers an alternative to hospital admission for patients who are acutely unwell with Influenza this season. It is designed to provide safe, symptom-focused management where admission may not be the best option. It is available to all adults but is most appropriate for frail older adults or those likely to have poor hospital outcomes. We can provide Oxygen, Nebulizers and IV antibiotics as required.
When to consider referring:
- NEWS =/> 5
- Oxygen saturations < 92% or below baseline
- Signs of sepsis
These patients are most likely to benefit from H@H support. For milder cases, symptom management in primary care will remain the most appropriate approach.
If you think H@H could help, please refer in the usual manner. Please ensure all appropriate infection control measures are implemented for all care home residents in whom Influenza is suspected.
East Lothian Hospital at Home (H@H)
Hospital at Home is a service that provides acute, hospital-level care by healthcare professionals in a home context for a condition that would otherwise require acute hospital inpatient care
Opening Times
Each day (including weekends): 8am-8pm
Contact Number:
Flow Centre: Option 1 then Option 4
Referral Criteria:
- Resident of East Lothian
- Patient/Carer/Family agree to referral
- Patient would otherwise require admission to hospital
- Safe for assessment at home or homely setting
Exclusion Criteria:
- Acute stroke
- Suspected fracture
- Surgical presentation including abdominal pain
- Cardiac chest pain
- Social issues only
- Acute exacerbation of asthma
- Suspected DVT/PE
All referrals are considered on a case-by-case basis. If unsure, please ask the Flow Centre to put you through to the East Lothian H@H team.
Other Information
Please do not send a SCI Gateway referral unless the referral has already been accepted as the team may not see it and the referral will not be acted on.
Please send a SCI Gateway referral once your patient has been accepted as we do not have access to primary care IT systems.
The referral pathway post acceptance is: ELCH > Geriatric Medicine > EL Hospital at Home
See above for Referral Criteria and Exclusion Criteria
All referrals are considered on a case-by-case basis. If unsure, please ask the Flow Centre to put you through to the East Lothian H@H team
How to refer:
Referrals are by phone in the first instance: Call Flow Centre: Option 1 then Option 4
Please do not send a SCI Gateway referral unless the referral has already been accepted as the team may not see it and the referral will not be acted on.
Please send a SCI Gateway referral once your patient has been accepted as we do not have access to primary care IT systems.
The referral pathway post acceptance is: ELCH > Geriatric Medicine > EL Hospital at Home
