A HEALTH trust has introduced two new schemes in a bid to reduce the length of time people spend in hospital.

The ‘Red2Green’ programme was introduced by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in ward B4 at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital yesterday (August 29).

The national campaign, which will be implemented across all of the trust’s five hospital sites, aims to improve patient experience and they amount of time they spend in hospital, with the hope it will reduce waiting times in A&E.

Health bosses said that each day a patient spends in hospital should contribute towards their recovery and discharge.

Days where no recovery enhancing treatment is given is classed as a ‘red day’, whereas days that add value and progresses a patient closer to discharge are ‘green days’.

The Red2Green is something for staff to refer to and patients won’t necessarily be aware, and nor will it be recorded specifically anywhere, but will be evident from patients notes whether they have had a ‘Red’ or a ‘Green’ day.

While a second campaign, ‘PJ paralysis’ has also been launched and it has been implemented on a few of the wards at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital - and aims to get patients up, dressed and moving to speed up their recovery.

Tony McDonald, deputy director of operations for the trust, said: “Each day a patient spends in hospital should contribute towards their recovery and discharge.

"Days where no recovery enhancing treatment is given is classed as a ‘red day’, whereas days that add value and progresses a patient closer to discharge are ‘green days’.

“The concept is complemented with work to end ‘PJ paralysis’, an additional national campaign the trust has embraced which focuses on encouraging patients to be more mobile by changing out of their pyjamas into day-time clothes.”

‘Red2Green’ is the brainchild of NHS Improvement senior clinical improvement adviser, Dr Ian Sturgess.

Mr McDonald said: “The Trust is 100 per cent dedicated to supporting improvements to the excellent care we deliver.

"Most importantly, we want to ensure that hospital stays are efficient and effective, encouraging a speedy recovery that can lead to patients returning home sooner.”