ST BARNABAS: Supporting patients and carers with new Home from St Barnabas House service

If you read my column regularly you may know that for the past five years we have provided a community companions service for St Barnabas House patients and their carers.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Mar 2018, 10:34 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:06 BST
Hugh LowsonHugh Lowson
Hugh Lowson

Community companions are a group of volunteers who provide social and practical support at home for patients who may feel isolated or find that tasks are becoming more difficult to complete on their own.

We have expanded our community companions service by introducing new Home from St Barnabas House volunteers.

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This service will support patients who have had a stay on the St Barnabas House in-patient unit, helping them to settle back at home.

Trained volunteers will meet a patient during their stay as an in-patient at the hospice and then, if appropriate, provide transport home.

Home from St Barnabas volunteers will help in practical ways, for example, making sure the heating is on, the patient has food in the fridge and they have all of their medications to hand.

The volunteer will then visit the patient twice a week for up to four weeks, providing both practical support and befriending.

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Returning home from the hospice can be an anxious time for patients, and we are hoping that this new service will enable patients to feel better supported, giving them and their relatives peace of mind.

If you would like to find out more about community companions, or if you would like to become a volunteer yourself, please contact our voluntary services team on 01903 706315 or email us on [email protected]

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