AN expanding Bradford on Avon care agency has launched a new system to monitor the health and wellbeing of its customers.

Bluebird Care in St Margaret’s Street has introduced Bluebird Care Assist, a new service that monitors vital signs on a regular basis to bridge the gap between home care and a hospital stay.

Managing director Dr Nigel Gough, says the new service will help their carers to spot signs that customers need nursing care.

“This unique service can spot early signs of a decline in a customer’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

“Getting help quickly enough could prevent further deterioration and the need to go to hospital.”

The Bluebird Care Assist service monitors blood pressure and pulse, temperature, breathing and oxygen saturation, alertness and general wellbeing.

The checks are carried out by the firm’s care champions, freeing up NHS district nurses and GPs to carry out other duties, as well as making sure that clients don’t have to leave their homes for check-up appointments with health professionals.

Bluebird Care operates a franchise for Wiltshire North, covering most of north and west Wiltshire.

The firm was launched by partners of the Bradford on Avon and Melksham Health Partnership in 2012. Its directors are Dr Gough, his wife, Mrs Lesley Gough, and Dr Nell Wyatt.

Dr Gough said: “Having medical directors is unusual for a domiciliary care company and we hope to make use of this additional skill and knowledge as we develop home care services, aiming to provide the highest standard of care for all of our customers.”

The agency places a strong emphasis on training and has recently introduced a new digital care management platform called PASSsystem to provide a single view of care records from enquiries, medication and task changes, to reviews and the automation of assessments.

Mrs Shirley Jones, Bluebird’s registered care manager, said: “Using the platform to update care plans ensures our care workers are notified of medication and task changes in real time.

“As all care records are e-recorded, there is no need to print paper copies. It’s all on our care workers’ phones.