Help is on hand all in one place for patients, visitors and hospital staff to find the community services they need as they leave hospital thanks to a new support hub.
The Hub at Broomfield Hospital aims to prevent people needing hospital treatment by linking them to local health and wellbeing support as soon as possible.
This includes when they are being discharged from hospital and may need further support to continue recovering at home.
It will also help reduce the amount of time people spend in hospital and the possibility of people being re-admitted by directing them to the right help for their needs and personal circumstances.
The Hub, which is in the main atrium of the hospital, is an area for private conversations with community support services that are based at the hospital. From April, a self-service health check machine will also be available for patients to use.
The Support Hub is an important addition to the hospital, empowering people to self-manage their health and wellbeing.
Housing, employment and lifestyle can all affect a person’s health and wellbeing. Therefore, linking people with the right community support at an early stage may prevent them from becoming seriously ill and needing to have urgent care.
This will be of huge benefit to the thousands of people who pass through the hospital every week.
Julie Smith, Managing Director at Broomfield Hospital
Organisations regularly offering support in the Hub include Citizens Advice Bureau for advice with legal issues, debt and finance support. The Essex Wellbeing Service is on hand for help with giving up smoking, weight management, tackling loneliness and addictions.
There is also dedicated employment support for those who, due to illness or diagnosis, may need help to stay in work or return to work, including support for those with a learning disability. This is provided through Essex County Council’s Connect to Work programme and the Mid and South Essex Anchor Programme.
The Hub is a joint project, funded by NHS Mid and South Essex and hosted by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, that supports local and national ambitions to help people stay healthier for longer and provide more care closer to home.
Since it opened in February, staff, patients and visitors to the hospital have been successfully using the service, with 40 referrals made so far.
No appointment is needed at the Hub, which is staffed by the different community organisations represented there. Patients and visitors can use the Hub at any time during a hospital stay and on discharge. Staff can also use it to support their patients and for themselves.
We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and bringing much-needed community support services into Broomfield Hospital. By providing early access to the right support, this can help to reduce avoidable hospital re-admissions as well as emergency care costs. We want everyone to have the same opportunities to be healthy, and this project brings us one step closer towards this goal.
Dr Matthew Sweeting, Executive Medical Director, NHS Mid and South Essex