Christmas is rapidly approaching and over the coming weeks staff at Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals and St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals will be aiming to help as many patients as possible to get home safely in time for the festive period.

The Trusts are calling on families and friends of loved ones in hospital to help them by playing a part in supporting their ‘Ho Ho Home for Christmas’ campaign.

As well as the positives of being home for Christmas the benefits for patients of continuing recovery at home, in a more familiar and relaxed environment, are well documented. And at this time of year, we wouldn’t want anyone unnecessarily stuck on a hospital ward if it is possible that they could be home enjoying Christmas Day with their family or carers.

There are wider benefits for the community as well at a time when the hospitals are facing pressures on patient flow and bed capacities.

Why It Is Important to be home for Christmas

• Once patients are medically stable, they recover much better and faster at home, especially if they have the right support around them.
• The faster patients get back to their own bed the better. Hospitals have lots of interruptions and noises and long-term sleep deprivation can slow down people’s recovery.
• Patients are less at risk of infection at home. This is important because when people have been sick, they have reduced resistance to bacteria and infections.
• Being in familiar surroundings with support from loved ones is one of the best things for people’s mental health.

Speaking about the campaign, Lesley Neary, Chief Operating Officer at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said: “We are working extremely closely with colleagues across the wider health and social care system to ensure we work effectively together to mitigate any potential delays to discharges and the aim of being ‘Home for Christmas’ for our patients.

“Nobody wants to spend longer in hospital than they need to, not least around the festive period, and we know that our patients recover faster if they are in their own homes in a more comfortable and familiar setting.

“If you have a relative or loved one in hospital who is well enough to go home, but is waiting to be discharged with home care and community health support, you may be able to help them to get home more quickly if you and your family are in a position to support them at home and we would ask people to speak to the ward manager or nurse in charge if this is something they can help with.’’

Dr Kate Clark, Medical Director at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, said: ‘Our staff our doing everything they can to support people and it is fantastic if people are well enough to get home in time for Christmas. We need to know that when they get home though they will be safe, warm, and supported to enjoy their Christmas, and that’s why we are asking people to help us.’’

If you have a family member, a friend or a neighbour in hospital, there are several things you can do to support their discharge from hospital including:

• Staying in regular contact with NHS staff so you can make plans for the expected date of discharge
• Arranging for suitable clothing and shoes to be available in time for discharge and making time to understand ongoing medication needs
• Organising the patient’s transport home where necessary.

Dr Clark added: “It also helps to do little things like popping some milk and food in their fridge, turning on the heating in their home and checking for trip/fall hazards like trailing cables and rugs. All these things can help ease the discharge of patients and get them back in their own homes in time to celebrate Christmas. Our dedicated staff will care for patients like they are members of their own family, but there is no place like home.

“Over the coming weeks, our inpatient teams will be assessing people’s health and doing everything they can to get them home in time for Christmas and the new year celebrations.

“It’s important to identify patients now who will be able to go home for Christmas so we can make sure that any care needs are put in place ahead of time. If patients are unable to go home, but don’t need to be in hospital, we will aim to arrange patient transfers to the relevant community settings wherever possible.”