Two Hour Urgent Community Response (UCR) Service

The Two Hour Urgent Community Response (UCR) Service provides people with urgent assessments, care and treatment for a short time. The service helps to keep people out of hospital and recover in their own home or place of residence, as well as supporting their independence.

An assessment is completed within two hours and personalised support is in place within two days (usually 24 hours).

The service provides care and treatment for people who are:

  • identified as at risk of hospital admission
  • registered with a GP in Wirral
  • aged 18 or over

Benefits of using the service:

  • quick assessment and treatment
  • care and treatment in people’s homes or place of residence
  • avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions
  • reducing the stress and anxiety associated with hospital admissions
  • helping people return home from hospital who need extra support

The team can provide tailored care and treatment for people who experience any of the following:

  • fall (in or outside of their home or place of residence)
  • reduced mobility             
  • confusion or delirium  
  • worsening of dementia
  • urgent catheter care        
  • diabetes deterioration
  • respiratory deterioration

Palliative and end of life crisis support is also provided to people who aren’t receiving care, as well as help for unpaid carers in crisis.

The UCR Service does not replace 999. If you or someone you know is in serious or life-threatening mental health crisis and requires emergency mental or physical care, dial 999 immediately.

About the team

The multi-skilled team includes:

  • call handlers
  • community paramedics
  • nurse practitioners
  • physiotherapists
  • occupational therapists
  • social care practitioners
  • health care assistants

The team provides joined up care and works closely with GP Practices across Wirral, Northwest Ambulance Service (NWAS), NHS111, local care homes and Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDT).

What to expect

Referrals into the service are made by health and care professionals, as well as self-referrals, or referrals from family members or carers.

Following a referral, a nurse, therapist or social worker will arrange a visit to the individual’s home or place of residence. During this visit a care plan will be developed focussing on how to improve the health and well-being of the patient.

Once the patient’s condition has improved, the team will identify and arrange other services and care packages, if required. Following this the patient will be referred back to their GP.

GPs can refer people back into the service to avoid a hospital admission.

Referrals from health and care professionals

To make a referral please call the team on 0151 514 2222 (option 2).

Upon receiving a referral, the team will assess the following:

  • is the patient at immediate risk of hospital admission?
  • do they need to be seen within two hours?
  • what has changed in their condition that requires a 2 hour or 2-day response?

Following this an electronic referral will be sent to the service and will result in:

  • 2 hour urgent care response
  • personalised support in place within two days
  • signposting to an appropriate local service

Self-referrals

The service also accepts self-referrals from individuals or family members and carers.

To make a referral for yourself or a member of your family please call NHS 111.

You can only refer someone if they have previously used the service.

Opening hours

The service operates 365 days per year, from 8am to 8pm.

Contacting the service

To contact the team please call 0151 514 2222 (option 2).