Plea to help the vulnerable stay at home after busy Christmas for NHS in Cornwall
Cornwall Council has issued an appeal as officials anticipate a busy New Year and surge in coronavirus
Last updated 1st Jan 2022
Cornwall Council is asking residents to give any support they can to help vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours stay safe at home this festive period.
The calls follows an open letter from the NHS and council's care services asking residents to help the health and care services help them at a time of high demand.
The adult social care teams are working to support hospitals in getting people ready to be discharged back home with support, or into care homes.
Officials say there is currently high demand for home care and the council is urging relatives of those needing support at home to give extra help and be as flexible and patient as they can when packages of care are being arranged.
Officials say this Christmas has been one of the busiest years ever for the Duchy's NHS staff and they are braced for a busy New Year and anticipated surge in coronavirus cases too.
How can I help?
Support loved ones to leave hospital
Sometimes patients may be discharged early in the day or late at night and we appreciate your help with settling in loved ones at home.
Evening and weekend visits
There are times we can offer some of the care needed at home which means your loved one can leave hospital with your support, for example to cover evening or weekend visits.
Flexible timing
Our home care visits will often be offered in a broad rather than precise time band, for example ‘morning’, ‘lunchtime’ or ‘evening’, and we may need to use different care workers for each visit.
Cancel care no longer needed
If your loved one needs less care now than they used to because they have returned to greater independence please let our adult social care team or your care provider know. Returning care hours back into our system helps others who need it most.
Councillor Dr Andy Virr, Cornwall’s cabinet member for adults, said: "Health and care workers across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are working tirelessly together to keep services running to support us all, our loved ones, our neighbours, and our communities.
"There is high demand for health and care services during this festive period and in order to help you we need your extra support.
"If you have relatives or friends receiving or waiting to receive home care we are extremely grateful for any help you can give to support your loved ones leave hospital, settle them back at home and perhaps visit them during evenings and weekends when it can be more difficult to source care visits in some locations.
"I want to thank our residents for the many ways you have responded to the pressures on our health and care services in 2021 and please continue to help us to help you".
Information on choosing the right treatment and how to ease the pressure on Cornwall's NHS can be found on NHS Kernow's Choose Well website.