Royal Voluntary Service joins British Red Cross in project to support even more vulnerable people this winter
Royal Voluntary Service is joining British Red Cross in providing additional Home from Hospital support across England, to help as many people get home safely from hospital as possible.
Our Home from Hospital services operate all year round, but each winter we see demand for our support increase as rates of seasonal illnesses rise, making winter a busy time for the NHS. This year, working with British Red Cross, we aim to expand our services to help even more patients.
We know that for some, returning home after a hospital stay can be daunting. Working with NHS partners, our Home from Hospital services ensure that volunteers are there to provide the practical and emotional support patients need to get back on their feet.
The support offered by Home from Hospital and community support volunteers includes collecting people after their stay in hospital, settling them back into their homes, providing transport for follow up appointments, assisting with grocery shopping, collecting prescriptions and helping to re-build their confidence, for up to four weeks after their return home.
Volunteers are making sure our clients have everything they need to get back to a healthy, independent life as soon as they can, which in turn, gives hospital staff peace of mind, reduces chances of re-admittance and helps ease pressures on hospital wards.
“Our Home from Hospital services have a real impact on a patient’s experience when they’re recovering at home, and they are in increasing demand. Alongside British Red Cross we are working hard to expand our services this winter so that we can offer this valuable support to as many people as possible, and in turn support our hard working NHS.”
Sam Ward, Director of Services and Deputy CEO at Royal Voluntary Service
“Knowing that someone is there when you need them, should things get a difficult, is such a nice feeling. It gives you a little bit of calm and reassurance when you start to worry about how you’ll manage to do things. When Claire from Royal Voluntary Service came to visit is was such a weight off my mind. We hit it off straight away. She’s so friendly and helpful and I feel safe.”
Jeremy Stringer, a Royal Voluntary Service Medway Home from Hospital client
As part of the increased seasonal support, Royal Voluntary Service is looking to recruit and mobilise new volunteers to support the NHS and more clients in its Home from Hospital services.
