Let’s End Going Home Alone – Providing Support and Reducing Readmissions

1. Sam Ward
DIRECTOR
WEST ENGLAND & WALES

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

7. ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

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

12. OUR SIX ESSENTIALS

13. OUR 6 ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLESOUR SIX ESSENTIALS

14. Questions