A team at Ipswich Hospital which helps frail patients return home quickly has scooped two prestigious national awards.

The Frailty Assessment Base (FAB) was set up in October 2015 and is made up of health professionals, therapists, nurses and admin staff who help patients with lifestyle advice, medication changes, social support and specialist equipment.

Last week the team was celebrated at the Patient Experience Network National Awards with gongs in continuity of care and friends and family categories.

Becky May, matron for medicine at the hospital, said: “We are absolutely delighted that this fantastic initiative has been recognised again nationally.

“To receive not one but two top accolades is an outstanding achievement and one our staff should be justifiably proud of, especially as one of those awards is based on the experience our patients have when accessing the service.

“FAB has a ‘home first’ ethos, and staff work very closely together as a team to focus on putting the right support in place to help patients return home while preventing admissions wherever possible.

“Not only is this much better for our patients and their families, as it helps them to maintain their independence, but it also helps us ensure that beds in the hospital remain available for those with the greatest clinical need.”