A service established to assist patient discharge is ready for referrals.
Age UK Lancashire Hospital Aftercare Service has been running for nine years, supporting patients living in Fylde in Wyre.
The team has expanded and are now able to take a lot more referrals from local hospitals in order to speed up discharges.
Team manager, Joanne Rawlinson said: “We have a fantastic team made up of allocation officers who meet staff and patients on the wards to help with discharge and support workers who assess patients once home, helping them to avoid going back into hospital and to remain independent.
“Our team can transport patients home and this speeds up the discharge process for staff.
“We support anyone over 18 and work closely with local services and organisations. A lot of referrals are for elderly patients who often have little family support.
“We support a patient to be independent and we identify big and small changes to improve their health and wellbeing.
“We can assist them to shop and help around the house to make them feel more comfortable, as we are able to spend more time with them we build positive relationships and outcomes.
“There can be a gap in social support and we try to fill that by taking pressure away from other services in order to help people with smaller tasks, signposting and referring to other organisations.
“The NHS can concentrate on medical support and we can help patients get home earlier and also prevent patients going back into hospital.
“Any staff member can refer a patient to us no matter where they work and we are ready and able to support more patients.
“We are often told from patients they feel their lives have changed so much and how much better their quality of life is after they have received our help.
“Patients can also self- refer once home, so please tell patients, friends and family about us.
“I feel so privileged to be part of this service. We have a fantastic team and I am excited to see what difference we can make in the future!”
To contact the team for referrals or to ask any questions, please contact 01253 955282.