4. THE FACTS
There are over 5.1 million 75+ living in UK today, by 2035 there will be 7 million
The age group has grown 10% in 10 years
But their hospital admissions have grown 4x faster at 38%
Readmissions have been higher still – up 86%
Effective Home from Hospital services can help to tackle readmissions while reducing delays
at discharge and improving patient wellbeing.
5. THERE IS A REAL NEED FOR MORE HELP
46% of 75+ who have been in hospital live alone
Lack of sufficient support after hospital doubles readmissions for older people
The simplest help, from a volunteer can make an extraordinary difference
8. SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR SERVICES
Leicestershire
Our service in Leicestershire is having a real impact on reducing readmission rates. Across the two years the
scheme has been operating, an average of just over 8% of service users have been readmitted to hospital as
an emergency, compared to the national average of 15%.*
The scheme has helped more than 1200 older people on their return home in its first two years. The
response has been overwhelmingly positive with the majority saying they feel more optimistic thanks to the
service.
There are currently more than 70 active volunteers supporting this scheme.
*Royal Voluntary Service Avoiding Unhappy Returns Report 2014
“Until the service started I had no transport to get to appointments. Now I can just call Sara and she
takes me … I really like the friendliness and genuine friendship of the volunteers. It’s an excellent
service.”
Sylwestra, Service User, Melton
9. SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR SERVICES
Glasgow
Run in partnership with Glasgow City Council, the Home from Hospital scheme offers help to vulnerable
people in the first few weeks following their discharge from hospital.
Our volunteers ease the transition from hospital to home by helping with transport, putting on the heating
and getting in shopping.
“It’s vital yet very simple that there is someone checking on older people, helping them to
get out and about will make a real difference - helping them to recover quicker”
Ann Millar, Social Worker, Glasgow
10. SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR SERVICES
Bristol
Together with the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol), Royal Voluntary Service is
setting up a new Home from Hospital service alongside new on-ward services, and our Good Neighbours
scheme aimed at supporting older people to stay independent for longer. The services are being funded using
profits from Royal Voluntary Service cafés and shops run by our volunteers at hospitals across Bristol.
“Volunteers can really help improve patients’ wellbeing and confidence at a time when
many feel vulnerable and anxious”
Dr Rachel Bradley, Consultant in Care of the Elderly, UH Bristol
11. Local RVS services
• Home from Hospital
- Pennine Acute Trust (in development)
- Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen (in development)
• On Ward Service
– Manchester (serving 2 of 4 hospitals) 2,808 interactions p/a
- Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen – 183 interactions (since Jan 2015)
• Dementia Befriending Service (on ward and in the community)
- East Cheshire – 14,219 interactions p/a
• Good Neighbours Service
- Rochdale – 2,184 interactions p/a
• Patient Transport
- Trafford – 1,664 journey’s p/a
• Exercise & Advice Service (expanded groups from 1-3 due to success)
- Over 1,040 return journeys p/a
SLIDE 2 (About RVS)
Background to the charity, highlighting the support we’ve provided to the NHS over the years
Notes on the About us slide:
We enrich the lives of more than 100,000 older people
We have more than 35,000 volunteers who give time and practical help to older people
Enabling them to get the best from life and to live independently. At home, in hospital, in the community.
Our Home from Hospital service supports older people returning home after a hospital stay
SLIDE 3 (NHS UNDER STRAIN)
Today the NHS remains much loved, but it’s a service under strain.
We’re living longer lives, it’s great news, but older people spend too much time in hospital – it’s not good for them or the institution.
Notes on the NHS Slide:
Health Service under strain and an ageing population is adding to that stress
Delayed transfers, rising readmissions, GP surgeries over-crowded
And budget cuts mean lack of money to invest in solutions
Two-thirds of people admitted to hospital are over 65
Readmissions within 30 days cost the NHS £2.2billion per year
In 10+ years readmissions have risen by 88% for those 75+
BUT these stresses can be eased in a cost-effective way with the support of volunteers AND government is encouraging CCGs & LAs to partner with voluntary organisations
What we know….
So we launched a campaign……Introduction to Let’s End Going Home Alone:
We launched this campaign with the release of a report (copies available on our stand) assisted by the King's Fund, which explores the frequency and impact of older people being discharged from hospital without adequate support in place and the potential impact of readmissions on older people and on the NHS. With delayed discharge and readmissions to hospital of real concern, our charity is championing greater use of volunteers to support the discharge and on-going recovery of older people back in their own homes.
Results from first 2 years of the H2H service in Leicestershire.
Report summaries available on our stand.
As per the evaluation...
We work across England, Scotland and Wales….
So we have a number of HfH services throughout GB supported by services in the community i.e. Good Neighbours….
STILL not enough…
Have the ‘local’ services above….
As part of the campaign we developed 6 essentials that we feel every older person leaving hospital should be entitled to.
