Hospital Aftercare Service

Please note, this service is not available outside Age UK Milton Keynes - Head Office's catchment area.

Age UK Milton Keynes
Peartree Centre 1, Chadds Lane
Peartree Bridge
MILTON KEYNES
Buckinghamshire
MK6 3EB
United Kingdom

Email: has@ageukmiltonkeynes.org.uk
Telephone: 01908 996073

We can support vulnerable people for up to six weeks after leaving hospital, attending A&E or following a procedure as a day patient.

What does the service offer?

If someone is unable to leave hospital because they have no family or other support locally, where it is appropriate, we can take them home and provide support.

We can provide...

🛏 Furniture and bed moves
🔑 Key safe fitting prior/upon discharge
🔨 Grab rail fitting
👩‍🦼Equipment delivery
🧑🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏼 Support to settle home on day of discharge
🍎 Essential food shops
💊 Essential medical needs/prescription collections
☎️ Urgent welfare visits or welfare telephone calls
🚗 Transport to essential outpatient medical appointments
❤️ Support to identify and navigate to longer term services needed (health, social care, Age UK MK services or other voluntary/community organisations)

Who is it for?

For vulnerable people 18+ who live in Milton Keynes and/or are registered with a Milton Keynes GP. This service is provided without charge for up to six weeks.

How do I access the service?

Our staff visit people on the hospital wards or can be contacted on phone or by email. They will arrive at the hospital within one hour of being contacted by hospital staff between 8.00am and 8.00pm seven days a week, including bank holidays, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day .

We will obtain as much information as possible from hospital staff so that we can ensure it is appropriate and safe for someone to be taken home. We also carry out an assessment at their home to make sure they will cope and that they have all the support they need.

Referral Form

About the service

• We can make a hot drink and a light meal if needed and will ensure that your bathroom and kitchen are safe for you to use. We will change bedding and tidy up where necessary and install or position hospital equipment where appropriate.

• Our staff will shop for essentials and can also help you deal with post and pay bills. They will also make appointments and collect pensions or prescriptions. We can make sure you are aware of all the help and support Age UK Milton Keynes provides and signpost you to Council services and other places of support.

• We can help you make benefit claims before you leave hospital and try to resolve any money matters that are worrying you. Once you are home we can help you deal with your post, pay bills and make appointments. If necessary we can collect pensions and prescriptions and will do our best to help you settle comfortably at home.

• Sometimes coming out of hospital can be a shock to your system and you lose a bit of your confidence. A member of our team will be happy to sit with you and have a chat if that is what you'd like.

• We will take the time to listen to your concerns and will do our best to answer any questions you may have. We can also accompany you on short walks and help you take the gentle exercise you need to regain your strength.

If you are the patient and are also a carer - perhaps your husband or wife has dementia and relies on you - if you are being discharged from hospital and have no support locally, we can help.

It can be difficult to know where to turn for advice. We can find out the answers for you and refer you to other agencies where appropriate.

Some restrictions

We do not replace carers who help with washing, dressing and toileting. We do not replace existing support of help that family, friends and neighbours can offer. We do not replace healthcare professionals such as nurses or therapists and we do not provide a general transport service.

We are able to help hospital staff by making drinks and getting snacks for patients, but our staff have not received NHS training on feeding patients.

We would always ensure that the patient does not have dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) and we will only help a person with feeding when we have been assured by medical staff that there is no risk to the patient.