THE Royal Voluntary Service has called for more home support for patients after a new study showed 70% of nurses did not have confidence in the new two week hospital discharge policy.

 

The policy came into force in Scotland yesterday but the RVS survey revealed two thirds of nurses said a lack of social care was the biggest cause of delayed discharges.

More than half of the nurses who responded said they "frequently" had to delay releasing older patients back home because of a lack of support for them.

The RVS has launched a Let's End Going Home Alone campaign to provide more volunteers in hospitals and to support them back home.

It has been backed by 73-year-old Alex, from Glasgow, who was referred to the Home from Hospital service run by social services.

Alex, who was found lying on the floor of his home after four days, has no family nearby, just a brother in England who he talks to on the phone.

Volunteers visited him in hospital and brought him clothes and toiletries from home. They discovered he lived in a top floor flat with bare walls, no carpets and only pieces of rugs.

A RVS spokeswoman said they arranged for Alex to be paired with a local volunteer, also called Alex, who he met every day.

She said: "He lived nearby and was able to help settle Alex back home when he returned from hospital, including filling the fridge and greeting him when he got home with a cup of tea.

"His regular visits have helped Alex get back on his feet and rebuild his confidence. He no longer feels isolated or lonely."

Volunteer Alex said the two had become friends and he spent "very rewarding" time with the pensioner.

He added: "He shared his love of opera and poetry with me. As he has never been to watch an opera, we suggested that might be his next goal!

The RVS also worked with a housing officer to get Alex's home clean and decorated, and new carpets fitted.

Alex said: "I'm so grateful for what Royal Voluntary Service have done for me - changing my life and improving it in so many ways. It's a comfort having Alex as a good friend and I look forward to seeing him every day."

The new hospital discharge target aims to reduce times from hospital to home or a care environment from four weeks to 14 days.

The RVS said more than a third of older patients are medically fit to be discharged but remain in hospital in 'much-needed' beds because of a lack of post-hospital support.

Their survey showed 84% of nurses questioned reported that delayed discharge was a serious problem in the hospitals they work in. Seventy six per cent said it has worsened in the last 12 months.

Margaret Paterson, Director of Royal Voluntary Service in Scotland said: "There have never been so many delays in hospital discharge and this is primarily due to a lack of support in place for older people after hospital.

"Bringing in additional volunteers through Home from Hospital schemes is a cost effective solution to ensuring older patients experience a timely and well-managed discharge from the hospital ward. A volunteer can offer both practical and emotional support and help the older person to rebuild their confidence and go on to live an independent and fulfilling life."