Volunteer groups to get £2m to support vulnerable patients this winter
NHS England has today announced up to eight voluntary sector organisations will share £2m to provide extra help over the busy winter months.
The groups, including Age UK, British Red Cross and Royal Voluntary Service, will run local projects that target those people most at risk of admission to hospital and who need extra support when they are discharged, such as older people living alone without a support network.
This is a joint initiative between the national tripartite (NHS England, Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority, with the Association of Directors of Social Services) and the Cabinet Office.
Sarah Pinto-Duschinsky, Director of NHS Operations and Delivery, said:
“The colder winter months can take their toll on many of us but none more so than older people and those with long-term conditions, where even the common cold, can trigger a hospital stay.
“These innovative projects will support the fantastic work of doctors and nurses across the NHS and help ease the pressure on busy our A&E departments by helping people stay well and recover from illness.”
Among the groups winning funding today is the Royal Voluntary Service in the East Midlands who will grow their ‘hospital to home’ service, that aim to help older people being discharged from hospital to recover and create social support networks so that they are less likely to be re-admitted.
David McCullough, Royal Voluntary Service Chief Executive, said:
“We are delighted to receive this funding to expand our Home from Hospital scheme. We know that the right help on a return home from a hospital stay can make a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of older patients, and our research has found that support such as this can reduce readmissions by as much as 50 per cent.
“Home from hospital schemes are a cost-effective and successful way of enabling older patients to fully recover and integrate back into their community, allowing them to enjoy the quality of life they deserve.”
Age UK and the British Red Cross working together in Leeds will run a hospital discharge support and A&E admission avoidance service. The scheme will operate 7 days a week including holidays, with patients supported throughout their stay in hospital and at home.
Minister for Civil Society Brooks Newmark said:
“I am pleased to announce the winners of these exciting new funds. Taken together, we believe that these projects will showcase the potential of social action to reduce hospital pressures and improve patient experience, and will be sustained into the long-term by local commissioners.”
The funding is part of a commitment by NHS England to support innovative solutions that will help ease thepressure on services like A&E particularly around busy periods and will support the fantastic work of the paid staff across the country’s busy hospital network.
The Nuffield Trust has been appointed as external assessors to evaluate the success and impact of the selected schemes.
15 comments
There appears to be no mention of the Mentally Ill in this exercise.
The Rt Hon Ian Duncan Smith MP DWP ‘fit for work’ scheme, not only leave the sick, disabled, and vulnerable without money, but has led too many early deaths, how will this latest initiative help them.
Can you advise please if any of the eight successful organisations are in Worcestershire.
Hi Suzanne,
The organisations to receive funding as part of the programme are:
• Westbank Community Health and Care, South West
• Royal Voluntary Service, East Midlands
• Age UK, South Lakeland
• Age UK, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
• Age UK, Oxfordshire
• British Red Cross Society, North Derbyshire
• Age UK and British Red Cross, Leeds
However, it would be worth checking with your local Clinical Commissioning Group or voluntary organisations in your area to see if they are already running similar schemes.
Kind Regards
NHS England
This is all lovely, well and good, but how on earth would the people who are supposedly going to benefit from this even know it exists. This bragging about funding and the delight of the organisations who receive it is of zero use to the very people they are meant to serve.
For goodness sake, spend less time talking about how wonderful you all are and provide information to the people concerned. TV ads, information packs in GP surgeries and hospitals, mental health units. Rememer the funding is to be used for those in need and they ‘need’ to know how to access the service.
Hi Kathy
Thanks for your comment. All of the organisations who have received funding have been working hard locally to put the schemes in place and ensure those who need help and support, know about it is there. We expect those organisations and partners to make information about their scheme available locally and to encourage volunteers to become involved.
Kind Regards
NHS England
The usual suspects again get funding without open competition and transparency , The local 3rd sector and Social Enterprise don’t get a look in when it comes to the big boys
Hi David,
Thank you for your comments. The award process launched in April was aimed at engaging as many voluntary sector organisations as possible. The initiative was launched via press release and advertised online, receiving coverage across the country both in print and online. In addition, six information events were held in May around the country. These were fully subscribed to, attended by over 200 representatives across a large range of voluntary organisations.
Kind Regards
NHS England
Please could a complete list of the projects receiving this funding be shared so that I can see if there is anything in place in Medway/Kent area and so that we may learn about schemes in other areas that could be implemented here. Thanks.
I agree – that would be helpful.
Hi Emma,
Many thanks for your comments. The organisations to receive funding as part of the programme are:
• Westbank Community Health and Care, South West
• Royal Voluntary Service, East Midlands
• Age UK, South Lakeland
• Age UK, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
• Age UK, Oxfordshire
• British Red Cross Society, North Derbyshire
• Age UK and British Red Cross, Leeds
Kind Regards
NHS England
The Minister is pleased to announce the winners of these exciting new funds. Could he in future ensure that the Third Sector is informed there is a competition for such funding?
Hi John,
Thank you for your comments. The award process launched in April was aimed at engaging as many voluntary sector organisations as possible. The initiative was launched via press release and advertised online, receiving coverage across the country both in print and online. In addition, six information events were held in May around the country. These were fully subscribed to, attended by over 200 representatives across a large range of voluntary organisations.
Kind Regards
NHS England