Categories

The categories that the CHA has developed for the Department of Health have been adopted and updated.

Classic Community Hospital 

A local hospital, unit or centre community based, providing an appropriate range and format of accessible health care facilities and resources for the defined community. These will include inpatient beds and may include outpatients, diagnostics, surgery, day care, nurse led, maternity, primary care and outreach services for patients provided by multidisciplinary teams.

Community Hospital Hub

Also referred to as Community Care Resource Centres, these local hospitals provide a range of community-based health and social care services. Community hubs do not include inpatient beds but may include outpatients, diagnostics, treatments, day care, primary care and outreach services for patients provided by multidisciplinary teams. They may also provide service concerned with wellbeing and health promotion, and also provide a base for third sector services. A number of classic community hospitals are being reconfigured into community hubs, following the closure of inpatient wards.

Intermediate Care/Rehabilitation Unit

A local facility providing beds and associated clinics and therapy in order to promote independence, avoid admission to a DGH (step up) and reduce stays in a DGH (step down). These units or hospitals typically focus exclusively on rehabilitation, and do not provide other services.  These may be standalone units, or within a nursing home.

Community Hospital beds in a Ward in a DGH

Community beds for intermediate care have been established in a number of secondary care hospitals, and are described as community hospitals within a DGH.