New service speeds up hospital discharge for Wiltshire people

A new service for Wiltshire people is helping patients leave hospital sooner and settle back into everyday life.

Home from Hospital is a free service that offers practical help and emotional support to vulnerable people in the first few weeks after they have been discharged from hospital.

This includes making sure homes are safe, warm and clean to return to, stocking up on basic food supplies, organising minor home improvements and repairs and arranging homecare to help with washing, dressing, housekeeping, shopping and other tasks.

Home from Hospital caseworker Natalie Milburn said: “Too many people stay in hospital longer than they need, just because they haven’t got the right care and support at home. Not only does it cost around £700 a day to keep a patient in hospital, but they stand a much better chance of recovery if they’re back home with support in place. They’re also less likely to be re-admitted to hospital at a later date.”

The new service is aimed at people living in Wiltshire no matter which hospital they are staying in. They must be aged 60 or more or at least 18 if they have a disability.

Wiltshire Council is funding the pilot service for 18 months and Ridgeway Care & Repair’s Handihelp is delivering the service to Wiltshire people, excluding Salisbury residents who will get the same service from Age Concern. Handihelp is a community-based repairs and maintenance service and is part of Ridgeway Care & Repair, a home improvement agency which helps older, vulnerable or disabled people to remain living in their own home in comfort and safety.

Irene Wilkinson, 84, returned to her home in Manton Hollow near Marlborough after an 11-day spell in Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, following a fall. Suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and neuropathy, a condition caused by nerve damage, Mrs Wilkinson was finding it hard to cope.

Her social worker referred her to the Home from Hospital service and now she gets a daily visit from homecare provider Ridgeway Care to help with washing, dressing, making the bed and taking the rubbish out. Handihelp has fitted a wall shelf to hold Mrs Wilkinson’s telephone which used to hang from the wall and was often off the hook. And, Ridgeway Care & Repair will install a level-access shower to increase her independence.

Mrs Wilkinson said: “I can’t stand for long so everyday tasks are very difficult for me. Home from Hospital has helped tremendously and given me more peace of mind.”

Any hospital staff who are responsible for discharging patients can refer a patient to the free service. Handihelp’s case worker will either visit the patient before they are discharged, or within a day of arriving home, and arrange the necessary support.

For more information call Handihelp’s Natalie Milburn on 01380 73 55 55 or email handihelp@ridgewaycommunity.org.uk.