Age UK East Sussex hospital service up for national award

The service has successfully secured a place in the final three out of a total of 38 nominations.

Take Home and Settle works closely with the Hospital Intervention Team in the A&E departments at both the Conquest and Eastbourne District General Hospitals providing a fast response service to enable older people to be safely settled in at home once discharged from hospital.

The clients who receive the service usually live alone and require support to develop their confidence in addition to assistance with practical tasks such a shopping.

One client said: “The very kind person who brought me home from hospital was outstandingly kind and helpful and made sure I had milk which was bought on the way home and made sure I had enough food on my return home.”

Another client found the service inspired him to reach out to his neighbours, “the support gave me confidence to contact my neighbours and I now have help from three friends in my road with shopping and housework.”

The Health and Community Development Manager, Tracy Whittle, said that the success of the service is down to “close collaborative working on the front line between the Take Home and Settle and Hospital Intervention Teams and, at strategic level, between Adult Social Care and PCT commissioners”.

The winner will be announced at the Skills for Care Accolades Gala evening, which is due to be held on March 14 in London.

Age UK East Sussex is a registered charity no. 1139470.