Bath & North East Somerset’s Community Wellbeing Hub is offering practical support to patients who leave hospital, in response to the continued high demand for beds across the NHS.
The Hub, a collaboration between Bath & North East Somerset Council, HCRG Group (formerly Virgin Care) and third sector organisations, has secured £16,000 of funding to provide HELP packs to patients who are discharged from hospital to ease their transition back home.
The packs will provide:
- Three meals (breakfast, lunch and an evening meal) for three days together with snacks and drinks and essential toiletries.
- A welfare telephone call within 24 hours of receiving the pack (Monday to Friday), a follow up call one week later, and a further call at 28 days from the Community Wellbeing Hub Team.
- Onward referrals to other services and support – with welfare visits in certain circumstances.
- Practical information for other support services.
The packs will be distributed to patients discharged from hospital or will be offered to patients to avoid hospital admission, between January and March.
Councillor Alison Born, cabinet member for Adults and Council Housing, said: “Our hospitals always come under enormous strain during the peak winter months, but the pressure on beds right now is exceptional due to Covid.
“Often people are well enough to leave hospital and continue their recovery at home but are unable to do so because they don’t have support.
“The Community Wellbeing Hub can play its part to help fill this void.”
Jo Scammell, Head of Commissioning, HCRG group said: “These HELP packs give people the practical support they need in the immediate days after returning home and access to ongoing support should they require it.”
The HELP packs will also be made available to any health professional making a referral, including GPs and community reablement teams to help prevent hospital admissions.
Set up at the start of the pandemic, the Hub continues to offer health and wellbeing services to residents and support for the most vulnerable.
It offers a range of services to support people to:
- Keep active and healthy
- Achieve a healthy weight
- Access food, transport or medication
- Improve mental health and wellbeing
- Stop smoking
- Access housing advice
- Receive advice on employment issues
Residents can contact the team at the Community Wellbeing Hub on 0300 247 0050, Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.
