A multi-agency pilot project to help older people who are in hospital to maximise the benefits they are entitled to has been hailed a success.
A multi-agency pilot project to help older people who are in hospital to maximise the benefits they are entitled to has been hailed a success.
The specially trained team, the first of its kind in Scotland, included staff from, the West Lothian Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and West Lothian Council’s Revenues Unit. The team now provides direct benefit advice to all older people awaiting discharge from hospital. A full benefit check is integrated into the overall assessment of patients' needs. Advisors work directly with people to complete the complex forms, minimise the possibility of incomplete information, and maximise the benefit award to the individual. In many cases the material benefits are significant and make a vast difference to the quality of life for the individual concerned. Bob Anderson, chair of West Lothian Community Health and Care Partnership, said: “This new service is already having a very positive impact, so far the team has been able to support more than 100 older people. Working closely with the DWP provides the ability to fast track applications with results confirmed in days rather than weeks. The positive impact of this is that it contributes significantly to speeding up the hospital discharge process, which benefits the older person because they can go home and it frees up hospital beds.” Councillor Bruce Ferrie, convener of West Lothian Council’s Health and Care Committee, said: “The advantages of this new approach are significant, both to the individuals concerned and also the CHCP. A major gain form bringing together staff in the joint team is to be able to streamline formerly separate agency processes with the result that the time from assessment to benefit awards has been reduced by 60 percent.” Ends
Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:48:51
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