The NHS and three voluntary sector organisations are boosting their partnership to support people this winter.

This follows the success of last year’s collaboration which directly supported over 8,000 patients across the country.

Whilst the NHS and voluntary sector maintain a close partnership all year round, this is increased during the winter months to support patients’ recovery in their own home.

In the South East Age UK, British Red Cross and St John Ambulance are using a share of £328,716 from NHS England and NHS Improvement to help care for patients who are both in and out of hospital.

The providers are running 15 schemes across the region, all of which have been chosen to help support the needs of the local communities.

In Portsmouth, Mr B (65 years old) benefited from the local Age UK service following a car accident which resulted in an admission to hospital.

Shortly after leaving hospital, Mr B suffered a fall and was readmitted for a shorter period.

An assessor from Age UK Portsmouth visited Mr B at home and discussed the different avenues available to him to help him get back on his feet and reintegrate him back into the community.

Rory Massey, Chief Operations Officer for Age UK Portsmouth, said:

“Whether it is help with shopping or housework that is required, improving an older person’s confidence to enable them back into their community, or they just need a key safe installed or a hot meal, we are here to help.”

British Red Cross are running services in three hospitals across the region.

This includes new services at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, designed at helping people to leave hospital and readjust to life at home.

They’ve also expanded their ongoing support service at both St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight and East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.

On the Isle of Wight, Mr GN (64-years-old) was admitted to hospital after being found unconscious with a gastrointestinal bleed due to his heavy drinking. The ward asked British Red Cross to carry out a property assessment as a neighbour had raised concerns.

When British Red Cross staff visited the property, they reported that the property wasn’t fit for him to be discharged back too.

While GN was in hospital the British Red Cross organised a deep clean. They also organised a private assistant to help with cleaning, shopping and general daily support – including transport to Inclusion for help with his drinking. GN was safely discharged within four days.

Paul Webber, Operations Manager at British Red Cross in the South East, said:

“British Red Cross independent living teams help patients, many of whom are vulnerable, to return home and feel safe and supported once there.

“This funding has allowed us to strengthen our existing services and introduce some new ones, so we can help even more people.”

In December, St John Ambulance provided over 1,000 ambulance hours in the South East region.

One person who helped contribute is local man, Ray Ashman.

Ray helps transport patients from the William Harvey Hospital to various places around Kent, helping to reduce pressure on the NHS ambulance service, taking home around three or four patients per shift.

Adam Williams, National Head of Community Response at St John Ambulance, said:

“St John Ambulance is proud to provide support in communities across the country throughout the year.

“We always support the NHS during seasonal peaks and troughs and lend our CQC approved services, fleet and highly trained people when needed.”

Claudia Griffith, Director of Performance and Improvement NHS England and NHS Improvement South East, said:

“We work closely with our voluntary sector colleagues throughout the year but their additional support through the busy winter period has proven to be really beneficial for our patients.

“They have been transporting patients to and from hospital and supporting people to recover in the comfort of their own homes, meaning we can ensure people are discharged safely from hospital without unnecessary delay.”

It’s expected that the schemes will help over 1,500 people in the South East this winter, although given last year’s success this number could be much higher than originally planned.