Innovative new Back to Health project launches at Trust in January 2024
In January 2024 local charity partnership, H4ALL, is launching a new volunteer led project, providing support for patients attending opthalmology appointments at Hillingdon Hospital.
Professionals across the voluntary, health and care sectors have worked in collaboration to develop the initiative, which aims to help reduce the number of missed appointments and re-admissions.
Our Trust’s data shows that the Ophthalmology Department has the greatest number of ‘Did Not Attends’ (DNAs), which can put patients at risk of deteriorating health, has a financial impact, and can extend overall waiting list times.
Many patients encounter barriers to attending appointments, such as lack of access to appropriate transportation, cultural or language barriers, or social and personal challenges. The aim of the project is to provide additional support to patients to help them tackle these challenges so that they can attend their scheduled appointment. If it is not possible for them to attend at the scheduled time, they will also have an opportunity to cancel in advance so the hospital can offer the appointment to the next person on the waiting list.
The team of trained volunteers will be supported by a volunteer coordinator, as well as a clinical lead, who will be on hand to support with any health-related concerns or issues people may have.
They will contact people on the ophthalmology waiting list in advance of their appointment to check they are able to attend, and openly discuss any challenges that might impact their ability to get to the hospital. They will be signposted to appropriate services if they need specialist support.
During the call, patients will also be given the opportunity to cancel the appointment, if that is their preference, which will help alleviate some of the waiting list pressures.
Josh Thorpe, project development manager said, “it’s exciting to see the culmination of all the hard work from everyone involved come together for this project,
“I’m looking forward to seeing the project thrive, and really make a difference to not only patients’ wellbeing, but also that of the hospital through reduced pressures and DNAs.”
Fiona Hill, H4ALL and 3ST managing directors said,
“Back to Health is a great example of partnership working that brings together The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Colne Union PCN, H4ALL and Helpforce, to help residents wait well, recover well, and live well, through the support of volunteers."