HOME FROM HOSPITAL SERVICE

BRITISH RED CROSS INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS AND RELATIVES

You may live alone or have family or friends who find it difficult  to help when you first arrive home from hospital. This is where the British Red Cross home from hospital service is able to assist you.

The sort of help depends upon your needs. For example you may want someone to:

• Do some essential shopping when you have been discharged
• Collect prescriptions or G.P. letters
• Collect pensions or other benefits
• Assist you with preparing meals/snacks
• Carry out light household tasks – for example: some hovering or dusting, tidying up in your main living area or help with bed making.
• Help you fill out various forms.
• Go out with you for walks or to visit the town (providing you are medically fit)
• Top up your gas/electricity cards or take your bills in to be paid.
• Assist you with writing letters.
• Escort you to view residential homes/sheltered accommodation(providing you are medically fit to travel)
• Walk the dog(this service depends on a suitable volunteers being available.
• Just sit with you offering conversation and companionship.
• Help you to access other services which may be Able to help with a specific problem.e.g.debt,tenancy/housing,welfare benefits, family and personal issues etc.

This free service is provided by trained volunteers and is available to all adult patients. They will be able to visit for up to four weeks, in some cases this can be extended to six weeks but will be assessed at the time. We will contact you to arrange times that suit both you and the volunteer.

If you wish to apply: please contact us at the number given below either prior to your admission or whilst you are in hospital.

Alternatively, you can speak to nursing staff. We will try to visit you before you go home to talk about the services you would like from the volunteer.

We operate in Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Deal, Dover, Folkestone, Maidstone, Thanet, Tunbridge Wells and areas surrounding these towns.

Please contact 01227 763900

Quality and Standards

We aim to ensure that all clients using our service are given the best care possible. If however for any reason you are unhappy with the service or can offer suggestions for improvement, we offer a complaints policy. Please ask the co-ordinator if you require a copy.

Confidentiality

We offer confidentiality to everyone who uses our service.
Nothing learned from us by those using our service, including the fact of their contact with us, will be passed on to anyone outside the organisation, without their express permission.

Equal Opportunities

As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The British Red Cross acknowledges and respects the cultural diversity which exists within the United Kingdom. We are bound by our Fundamental Principles and aim to ensure that procedures and practices do not favour one group more than another.