NHS and social care in Buckinghamshire are asking families to help support their loved ones when they return home from hospital.
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and Buckinghamshire Council have been working closely for a number of years to join up health and social care and ensure that as many people as possible receive treatment at home when it is safe and appropriate to do so, including after being discharged from hospital.
With the increased pressure of the pandemic on our local hospitals, this ‘home first’ approach has become even more important. For some people, the medical, nursing and therapy care they need can be provided at home, which could prevent the need to go to hospital at all. Families and carers play a vital role in helping to keep people safe and healthy at home.
Karen Bonner, Chief Nurse at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
“Home First is about making sure our patients receive the right care, in the right place and making sure people who no longer need to be in hospital are able to return home as soon as it is safe for them to do so.
“The number of patients with COVID-19 in our hospitals is higher than in the first wave of the pandemic. So, if families can help us care for their loved ones in their own homes, this will open up more capacity in hospital for people who need to be treated there.”
“And please don’t worry – you won’t be on your own. Our incredibly skilled team of community nurses and therapists are here to support you. But to do that they need you ‘Home First’!”
Councillor Angela Macpherson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Buckinghamshire Council said: “When a patient is ready to leave hospital, we all want to ensure that they continue to receive all the support and care they need to continue on the path to full recovery. Often the best place for this is at home, in the care of their loved ones. We know this is an extremely unsettling time for everyone, but we are able to offer a range of support and assistance to help families to cope and we will work with you in whatever way is needed.”
