Patients being discharged from Stepping Hill Hospital have been receiving support from the British Red Cross during the winter period.

The charity has been supporting patients leaving hospital during the busy winter months with its assisted discharge service.

Red Cross staff and volunteers have been providing support to vulnerable people to leave hospital when they are ready for discharge, either as inpatients or from A&E. 

The team provides support and reassurance during the process of discharge, and will then transport the patient home. Once home the team helps the person to settle, make a hot drink and a light snack and ensure the heating is switched on.  They will also alert neighbours and friends the person is home and ensure the Lifeline is working.  If necessary, an emergency groceries shop will be carried out on the way home.  The team are also able to signpost on to other organisations and agencies offering further support.    

The service – which is run by 14 staff and volunteers - began operating in mid-January and has supported around 120 patients to date.

Stepping Hill Hospital, together with other hospitals across the country, is always particularly busy and full to capacity during the winter period. Ensuring good patient flow through the hospital from admission to discharge can be a challenge. The Red Cross has provided valuable support during this time, reducing unnecessary delays.  National studies show 76% of hospital staff surveyed find Red Cross assisted schemes useful in helping with discharge.

So far Stepping Hill Hospital is the only hospital in Greater Manchester to receive the assisted discharge service during the busy winter period, although the service is commissioned year-round in hospitals throughout the North West. This service will continue until the end of March.

Alison Lynch, Chief Nurse and Director of Quality Governance at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said “The presence of the Red Cross volunteers at the hospital over winter has been hugely appreciated. They’re a great reassurance for patients to have, and they’re helping us to allow patients to get home where they want to be sooner, which is not only good news for them but also helps us to maintain the right number of beds in the hospital for all our patients. “

.British Red Cross independent living service manager in the North West Helen Featherstone said: "We’re really pleased with the service our volunteers and staff have been able to provide, alongside our partners at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, during the busy winter period."

“No-one wants to stay in hospital longer than they need to but many can’t go home because it’s either not safe to do so or because they don’t have the right care and support available at home.

“The difference made through simple, kind acts can’t be underestimated, for example, listening to someone’s concerns as they prepare to leave hospital, helping them get the shopping in when they get home. We’re there for reassurance and support, empowering people to take their first steps on the road back to independence.”