Urgent Community Response services help thousands avoid unnecessary hospital visits across Cheshire and Merseyside
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
More than 62,000 people across Cheshire and Merseyside received urgent care in their own homes over the last year, helping to avoid unnecessary Emergency Department attendances and supporting people to remain independent for longer.
Urgent Community Response (UCR) services provide rapid, multidisciplinary assessment and treatment for adults experiencing an urgent health or social care crisis who might otherwise attend hospital or be admitted as an inpatient. Delivered in patients' usual place of residence, UCR teams aim to respond within two hours and provide a range of interventions including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing, rehabilitation and short-term support.
As part of Cheshire and Merseyside Provider Collaborative's (CMPC) Community Programme, work has been underway over the last 12 months to increase awareness and referrals into UCR services, supporting the wider ambition to shift more care from hospital settings into communities as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan for England.
In May 2026, UCR services across Cheshire and Merseyside accepted 5,197 referrals – a 92% increase compared to the same month the previous year. Referrals from the ambulance service also increased from 7% to 13%, demonstrating how community-based alternatives are helping to avoid ambulance conveyances and potential hospital admissions.
Across the whole of 2025/26, UCR services managed 62,607 referrals that would otherwise have resulted in an Emergency Department attendance, reflecting growing demand for urgent community-based care.
Performance against the national two-hour response standard also remained strong, with services achieving an average response rate of 86% against a target of 70%.
A key strength of the Cheshire and Merseyside model is its "No Wrong Door" approach, which enables referrals from a wide range of sources including ambulance services, GPs, community healthcare teams, care homes and social care professionals.
One patient who benefited from the service was an 86-year-old man living independently in supported accommodation in Chester. After a fall while boarding a minibus left him unable to stand, a 999 call was made, and he was referred to the Cheshire West UCR Response team.
Following assessment, clinicians determined he could be safely treated at home. He received a face-to-face visit within two hours, with observations and blood tests completed in his home. A GP reviewed the results and adjusted his antibiotic treatment the same day, while the team also tailored care to support his needle phobia.
The patient was transferred to the Hospital At Home service for ongoing monitoring and therapy aimed at reducing future falls risk. As a result, he avoided an ambulance journey and potential hospital admission, remaining well and recovering comfortably at home with support from his family.
Emma Danton, Head of Transformation for CMPC’s Community Programme said:
"Urgent Community Response services are a vital part of our commitment to provide more care closer to home. By bringing together health and care professionals to respond quickly when people need support most, we are helping patients avoid unnecessary hospital attendances and receive timely care in the place that is often best for their recovery – their own home.
"The significant increase in referrals and the strong performance against national standards demonstrate the value of these services and the dedication of teams working across Cheshire and Merseyside."
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Executive Clinical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:
"UCR teams work every day to support people with urgent health and care needs, providing rapid assessment, clinical interventions and ongoing care that can often prevent the need for a hospital visit.
"Community-based care can have a significant impact when services work together.
"Through a coordinated approach, people can receive the care they need at home, avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, maintain their independence and gain reassurance from knowing the right support is in place. This is exactly the type of person-centred care that UCR services are designed to deliver."