A rapid response service keeping residents out of hospital is nominated for a national award.

Hertfordshire community NHS trust’s (HCT) rapid response team was launched in St Albans and Harpenden in November 2015 and patients can be referred to it by clinicians, including GPs.

The team responds to referrals within an hour, going to patients’ homes to carry out an assessment which identifies, plans and addresses the patient’s needs.

Their nomination in the Health Service Journal’s value in healthcare awards was assessed by an expert judging panel.

Team members will now have to present to another judging panel in March before the awards are announced at a ceremony in London in May.

In its first year of operation the team accepted 660 referrals and the number of monthly referrals received continues to increase meaning more people are cared for in their home than in hospital.

NHS figures show the team has saved 4,300 hospital bed days – an estimation of how many days and beds would have been used if the patient had ended up in hospital.

HCT locality manager Charles Cadogan said: “Our patients tell us the team provides an excellent service.

“GPs frequently tell me how much they value the team due to the time it saves them and the effectiveness in pulling together care for difficult situations.

“I positively glow with pride when I’m in a local meeting and a GP or member of the local patient’s group spontaneously reports a story about how the team kept one of their patients safely at home.

“This team is an awesome example of fully integrated, community-based care for urgently sick people to provide an alternative to hospital care.”