NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Urges Help to Get Patients Home for Christmas

As Christmas approaches, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is asking people across the county to help friends and family return home from hospital if they are well enough to be discharged.

The call is aimed at making sure patients who are ready to leave hospital can do so safely and spend Christmas with their loved ones, while also helping free up beds for others who need care.

How you can help

If someone close to you is currently in hospital, there are several ways you can support their return home:

Check in with loved ones
Speak to the ward team to understand what is needed for them to be discharged safely and consider how you might be able to help once they are home.

Prepare the essentials
Making sure their home is warm, clean, and stocked with food and any required medication can make a real difference.

Offer transport
Helping with transport from hospital is particularly valuable. Picking someone up as early in the day as possible helps make beds available for other patients.

Stay connected
Spending time with someone and offering reassurance can support their recovery and reduce the risk of them needing to return to hospital.

Extra support available

Hospital staff can also advise on one-off grants, known as a personal health budget, which may help patients return home.

Information about wider support is available through the Community Gateway, which is open every day, including Christmas Day, from 8am to 8pm. The team can be contacted on 01872 266383 or by email at welcome@kernowgateway.org.uk.

What the NHS says

Leighton Day, acting Chief operating officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, said:
“Our patients tell us they would rather be at home where they can recover more quickly and regain their independence. By working together, we can make sure more people spend Christmas where they belong – at home.”

More information on support for people being discharged from hospital is available on the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB website.

The message is clear. Small acts of help from friends and family could make a big difference this Christmas.