team@ddhf.co.uk
01388 665 910
It’s estimated that 1 in 5 GP appointments are about social rather than health issues. Our Health Care Coordinator Team is a proactive service, aimed at improving patients’ wellbeing alongside their health.
GPs had seen an increase in people coming to them with non-clinical issues because they had no one else to go to.
Originally designed to support older or frail patients, their remit was expanded in 2019 to include anyone aged 18 or over and in need of support.
Our team has experience from a range of backgrounds, both inside and outside the NHS, but they share a single priority: the needs of the patient come first.
From there, our team carry out thorough assessments to understand the patient’s needs and talk with them about what extra help they might need.
Together the Health Care Coordinator Team make a personalised care plan for each patient they see. From this, support can be given covering a range of issues such as care packages or home equipment.
Patients’ needs can also be matched to appropriate social or community groups.
We attend discharge meetings at Darlington Memorial Hospital, University Hospital of North Durham and Bishop Auckland Hospital.
Creating a positive relationship with hospital staff through good communication benefits our patients.
The longer a patient stays in hospital, the more susceptible they become to infections. We want to get our patients back to their homes as safely and quickly as possible. Appropriate and safe discharges reduce the risk of readmission for patients.
* 17/18 compared to 18/19
** January-December ’19 compared to previous 12 months
I visit patients at home and look at different aspects of their lives to ensure they are safe, happy, looked after and able to manage day-to-day tasks.
I enjoy working with older people, getting to know them and hopefully having a positive impact on their lives. They’re often forgotten members of society – I enjoy giving them a voice and making them feel valued.
The best part of my job is gaining a patient’s trust, building a relationship and helping improve their health, wellbeing and happiness.