The biggest care gap: the fear of going home after discharge

Roy Lilley’s NHS Managers.net newsletter is always interesting and worth subscribing to, but this week’s issue had a special resonance. Many of us have had to ‘manage’ a situation when you or a family member comes home after an illness, accident, or even minor injury. The actions you took for granted are now difficult, painful, or simply cannot be done. Climbing stairs, making a bed, lifting a full pot, even getting on a coat or jacket or tucking in a shirt are just a few. These have special resonance for those of us who have a few ‘cycles’ on us (as aviation terms a takeoff and landing), even if mentally we’re about 35 (!) Will we ever be quite right again? What happens when the home help goes home, or you’re by yourself?

Of interest to American readers is that the British Red Cross is pivoting to fill the care gap of discharge to home. The BRC has a long history of working with the NHS, which was a surprise to this Editor, as the American Red Cross’ emphasis is on disaster relief (of which we have aplenty). Home to the unknown: Getting hospital discharge right is their umbrella report with briefings for England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The BRC provides ambulance support, helps people get home from hospital, carries out home assessments and supports older and vulnerable people to live independently at home. As Mr. Lilley put it, referring to the traditional Red Cross mission:

Refugees? About 900,000 people used to get care and support from local council services. The eligibility criteria have been raised, now they get no help. They are refugees in our care system.

On a different note, this issue’s sidebar contains a link to a short article about the scientific pioneer Marie Curie and a few tidbits about anti-inflammatory drugs being used to treat depression, tick-borne diseases spreading in the UK, and medtech fighting breast cancer 10 ways.