Advisers to visit hospital patients

Advisers to visit hospital patients

9th September 2013

Older hospital patients in Norwich will be visited by advisers to help alleviate worries which may arise during their stay.

It is hoped that by removing any stress created by their spell in hospital, the patient can concentrate on getting better.

The Hospital And Home project sees Age UK Norfolk and Age UK Norwich working with Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Advisers will visit Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital hospital three times a week, offering support at the bedside.

Dr Peter Forster, chairman of Age UK Norfolk, said: “We hope that the combination of acute hospital expertise with charitable sector knowledge of working in the community will prove a powerful force in improving the experience of older people in acute hospitals and facilitating their prompt return to their communities and homes.

“If this project is effective we would hope to extend the work to include other acute hospitals in Norfolk as well as the extensive network of community hospitals operated by the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust.”

From September 10, a dvisers will be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 2pm and 6pm. Discussions can take place on the ward or in a private room.

Anna Dugdale, chief executive of the NHS trust, said: ” We are delighted to be working with Age UK Norfolk and Age UK Norwich to provide additional support to our older patients by addressing any anxieties about being away from home or concerns about what services might be available to them when they return home.

“We believe that working together in this way, focusing on the needs of individual patients and their families, is a great example of how charitable organisations can provide much needed support to complement NHS services.”

The service will also be available to visiting family members and carers who would like information and advice on how to support older relatives and friends.

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