Fenland's Welcome Home from Hospital service proves valuable in cold snap

A SERVICE launched for Fenland patients returning home from hospital last year has proved especially valuable during the big freeze. The Welcome Home from Hospital Service has just helped its 43rd resident, six months after its launch and one year after d

A SERVICE launched for Fenland patients returning home from hospital last year has proved especially valuable during the big freeze.

The Welcome Home from Hospital Service has just helped its 43rd resident, six months after its launch and one year after development funding began from Fenland Strategic Partnership.

Volunteers offer patients the service, which is run by the charity Care Network Cambridgeshire, and give their time for free. After a development period the service launched publicly in Fenland last summer.

Senior direct services co-ordinator Hilary Johnys said: "We're really pleased with how well the service is taking off in Fenland. We are now helping two or three patients a week.

"We aim to keep growing so more and more of our older, isolated and vulnerable residents can have a welcoming visit, reassurance and practical help when they get home. We usually visit between three and five times during the person's first couple of weeks back home, but this varies to suit individual needs.

"People may have no family or friends to help out and need essential food shopping after discharge or visits to check they are okay.

"This is a vital service and has been particularly so in these cold and icy conditions. We are really grateful to the Fenland Strategic Partnership for making all this possible."

A three-year Big Lottery Fund grant announced by Care Network before Christmas and which started on January 1 will now keep the service running up to 2012.