AVA Annual Report 2022

HOSPITAL
HOMECOMING
...AIMI BLUEMAN,
PROJECT OFFICER
After many months of development work which
included the recruitment of community groups and
volunteers, identification of patient pathways suitable
for the project, building of relationships with NHS and Health
and Social Care Partners and attempting to obtain a data
sharing agreement with NHS Grampian, the project started
to receive patients using a patient consent workaround.
To date there have been 45 enquiries for support coming
from ARI, Community Hospitals, Care Managers, OTs, families
and friends and patients themselves. Some enquiries have
been made for patients outside of the three project areas
(Portlethen, Huntly and Clashindarroch and Central Buchan)
or their support needs are outwith the project scope;
wherever possible these individuals have been signposted
on to other groups or services.
A total of seven patients have been supported thus far,
mainly receiving support with shopping, transport and
friendly chats. Feedback from patients and volunteers has
been positive.
Development work has continued; the Data Sharing
Agreement with NHS Grampian is still being pursued and
Aberdeenshire Council have been approached for a Data
Sharing Agreement and work to achieve this is underway.
Different models and pathways of identifying suitable
patients have been discussed with the Health and Social
Care Partnership and a more proactive approach is being
developed to prevent hospital admission.
38 // AVA
ANNUAL REPORT 2022
“As far as I’m
concerned it’s
a first class….
whoever thought
of this should
be knighted…
it’s a marvelous
scheme.”
“[The volunteer]
goes beyond
helping me….she
doesn’t just leave
my messages on
the floor she put it
away for me.”
“In my opinion I
regard her [the
volunteer] now as
a friend.”
“We get on very
well, I feel like part
of the family...we
have nice chats
…and we get on
really well.”
“I get a lot out of
it, I feel like I am
doing something
worthwhile
compared to my
real job I used to
have where you’re
not making a
difference.”