Sam WardDIRECTOR

WEST ENGLAND & WALES

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.

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

ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

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

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

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

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

OUR SIX ESSENTIALS

OUR 6 ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLESOUR SIX ESSENTIALS

Questions