Volunteers sought to help ‘unique’ scheme

The Independent Living Association, in Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, set up its advocacy scheme after securing funding from the Department of Health.

Working in partnership with the St Lawrence Surgery, in St Lawrence Avenue, the association works with patients whose needs go beyond that of medical treatment.

If the surgery and the patient think they will benefit from using the advocacy service, they will be referred and meet up with the association to discuss their needs.

Sue Caslake, 39, co-ordinator of the initiative, explained it had seen 24 referrals since its launch in September.

She said: “There’s a big gap between social needs and medical needs.

“There may be times when a patient is presenting regularly with chest infections but there may be underlying social issues like poor living conditions.

“That’s where we step in to advise, support and empower them to resolve their issues.”

For the full story, see the Worthing Herald, out Thursday, January 17.