Sheffield's 'Hospital to Home' team working hard to reintegrate Covid-19 survivors into their lives

While many people are doing their part to support the current pandemic by staying home, Karen is one of a number of people working hard in the community to support those trying to put their lives back together.

The Hospital to Home team forms the last piece of the jigsaw when it comes to getting people who have recovered from Covid-19, and are now being discharged from hospital, back home and settled.

“Obviously it’s difficult right now for family members to be on hand for people as they usually would be so that’s where we come in,” says Karen.

“We collect people from hospital, take them home, and ensure they’re integrated back into their routines.

"This can include visiting their home in advance and airing it out before they return, putting their heating on, shopping so they have food in, and working with other agencies to make sure they have an ongoing routine of support for in the days and weeks ahead.”

The scheme operates at the Northern General Hospital, the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, and Weston Park Hospital.

It generally works to support the elderly, frail, vulnerable, and socially isolated, but - as with many other services in these times - Karen says they are having to adapt their offering to the current situation.

“Most of our clients previously have been over the age of 65, with little family support,” says Karen.

“They have various concerns following an admission, such as pets that need feeding when in hospital, shopping or bills that need to be paid, and lights or fires left on.

“Our tasks are varied, and can range from delivering and fitting home aids and making adaptations, collecting clothes and personal items to be taken to hospital, looking after pets, or making arrangements with other services, such as occupational therapists.

“However, since the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve been taking home many younger people who have recovered from Covid-19, but due to social distancing, don’t have the support on-hand they usually would.

“Last Friday we had a call from a social worker at 2.30pm to say there was a 25-year-old gentleman with learning disabilities, living alone in isolation with no money and no food.

“They’d tried all the food banks with no luck, and nobody could get any help to him until the following Monday, so we donated some food parcels to him from Morrisons, and went and delivered those.

“We’ve also had a lot of contact from family members who are so grateful to us for offering support to their relatives at a time when they’re not physically able to.

“For those who are being discharged after recovering from coronavirus, we don’t dwell on it too much with them, as a lot of people are still fragile.

“They’re grateful to be among the ones who get the chance to come home, and that’s all they’re thinking about.”

And another aspect of the job which has to adapt, due to the current pandemic, is the wearing of PPE with every client.

“Our policies and procedures are all changing,” says Karen, who has been with the service for a little over a year.

“Obviously PPE is in short supply, so we’re being mindful not to waste it, whilst ensuring our staff are fully covered, in gloves, aprons and masks, for our protection, as well as for the clients.

“We also use visors if we’re coming into very close contact with people.

“Our senior management are fantastic, holding a daily conference call to check everybody is doing alright, and has everything they need.

“Our chief executive has been calling everyone individually to make sure we’re comfortable with everything we’re doing, and to see if there’s anything we need.”

And Karen says that, although the team is currently managing to stick to its working hours quite well, they’re always on stand-by incase there’s a rush of discharged patients.

“Everybody is being flexible, and just doing all they can to support the situation as it is,” says the 43-year-old mum, who lives in Pagehall with her husband - who is also a key worker - and her teenage son.

“And although we’re ensuring we use staff first as much as possible, we always have wonderful volunteers sat waiting and ready to jump in if they’re needed.

“We have a couple of young men volunteering with us at the minute, doing jobs like delivering and fitting key safes, and helping with the delivery of home equipment.

“It’s really fantastic to see how much people are pulling together.”