The British Red Cross support at home and seven day discharge service in Peterborough helps anyone in the city council’s area over the age of 18 who needs time limited support. The service aims to help you recover and prevent you going back into hospital. They will do this by resettling you back at home. They can support you with a range of practical and emotional provisions i.e. shopping support/befriending. Should you require a higher level of care than they are able to safely provide, they will actively refer you to a more appropriate agency. They can also support you through a difficult time in your life in the community by listening with compassion and understanding. They can help you to plan for the future with practical and emotional support, engage with your local community and if needs be referred you to further support services. This service cannot provide personal care or medication prompting, they also cannot move or lift you. Please see below a snapshot of the support they can provide:
- Taking service users home from hospital and helping them settle back in at home – when transporting patients home in one of the British Red Cross vehicles (they must be COVID free and be able to access the vehicle independently).
- Undertaking home safety checks (fire risk, slips and trip hazards etc.).
- Medication collection and delivery, if required.
- Deliver small equipment (wheelchairs/commodes/walking frames/perching stools) etc.
- Welfare checks post discharge.
- Shopping support or taking them shopping.
- Providing emotional support and companionship.
- Enhanced signposting/actively referring to other agencies and community support. They assist people to meaningfully connect with relevant support through partnership working with health and social care services, and the voluntary and community sector – ensuring smooth transition of referral or support for the service user.
- Linking people back in with friends and neighbours.
- Helping regain confidence and independence.
- Transport for health appointments post discharge.
