A SCHEME supporting elderly and vulnerable people across the district as they readjust to home life after hospital, is being hailed a success.

Home from Hospital (HFH), which is run by Shipley-based charity Carers’ Resource, is going from strength-to-strength and is getting more referrals, says its service manager Shelley Marshall.

The scheme helps people make a swifter recovery by making sure they get help to regain their independence and confidence after hospital stays.

Referrals to HFH have soared, between October and December last year there were 150 referrals which was up 21 per cent up on the previous quarter and 45 per cent compared to the same period in 2015.

It is being funded by Bradford City, Bradford District and Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Dr Nick Hayward, clinical lead for primary care at Bradford Districts CCG, said: “We are delighted with the results of the Home from Hospital service, which has allowed patients to be discharged sooner and make a swifter recovery.

“The service has also reduced the risks – such as infection, increased confusion and reduced mobility – for patients who spend longer in hospital than is needed.

“By investing in services like this, we’re making sure people get the care they need while reducing the strain on hospitals.

“The success of joined-up care services such as these can be seen in some of the excellent patient feedback received.”

The HFH service provides flexible weekly visits to give emotional support and help with a variety of things from shopping to advising on nutritional information and benefits. Patients so far have mainly been aged 65 upwards and had health conditions such as stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, reduced mobility, cancer, anxiety or depression.

Ms Marshall said: “The service has gone from strength-to-strength. The team is multi-skilled and provides a high quality service – supporting people with the things that are important to them, which means they have more choice and control.

“Helping someone to regain their confidence can greatly improve their quality of life and help them stay well and remain independent.

"Also, we’re able to give added value by supporting families and carers who are often under increased pressure when a family member becomes ill.”

A spokesperson from Bradford District and Craven CCGs said: “This service is part of our ongoing programme to support out of hospital care and ensure people are supported when they are discharged from hospital. The funding is in line with predicted capacity and is not in response to issues around delayed discharges.”

The service costs £195,000 a year to run, funding for the Bradford CCGs was increased this year by £55,000.

In a recent survey, 95 per cent of people said the help they received had made them feel less anxious and 100 per cent would recommend it to others.