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Spinal staff
work with charities to get patients home quicker
PATIENTS with spinal
injuries are beginning rehabilitation sooner and returning home
quicker thanks to innovative work with 2 charities in Southport.
The project is the brainchild of staff at the North West Regional
Spinal Injuries Centre based at Southport and Formby District
General Hospital.
More than 40 people saw a short film about the project at Southport
and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust's annual general meeting in
Southport on Tuesday, 17 September 2013.
"Advances in medicine mean patients who might once have died from a
spinal cord injury will survive. Up to 130 people a year now need
our specialist help which is a challenge with only 43 beds when some
might require months of rehabilitation as an inpatient."
said centre director Dr Clive Glass.
Staff began working with 2 charities to find a solution, focussing
on finding accommodation for patients who still needed specialist
treatment and support from the centre, but not necessarily a
hospital bed.
Vitalise, a national charity providing respite care for disabled
people, runs Sandpipers on Southport's Marine Lake, and a local
charity, the Spinal Unit Action Group, operates 6 Weld Road in the
town providing short and long term care for people with spinal cord
injury.
Imelda Weir, Spinal Outreach Service Manager at the centre, said:-
"The patients who now stay with Sandpipers and Weld Road are
still our patients and are treated by spinal medical, nursing and
therapy staff from the centre. By maintaining an 'open bed' within
the centre they can immediately return if a problem arises. It's
brilliant for patients because they get the clinical care they need
from spinal injuries centre staff and all the benefits of community
living without the need to be in hospital."
Richard, a patient who has experienced both types of care, said:-
"Everything in the hospital is done for you almost automatically
but, having had the experience here, I feel that I am capable of
directing people about my care when I get home."
Debbie, another patient, said:- "You're a patient in hospital;
it can't be any other way; but you're a person out there. It makes
you think and makes you independent."
The impact of the changes has been dramatic too for newly injured
patients waiting for admission to the spinal injuries centre. The
wait from referral to admission has dropped by more than a third
and, thanks to the confidence the project gives patients, they are
now going home 17 days earlier on average than before.
Dr Glass said:- "We've seen dramatic improvements in
perceptions of control and patients' overall quality of life and
their mood. There are no negatives."
Ed Fletcher, the chair of Southport Spinal Injuries Patient Group,
added:- "The combination of NHS and third sector has worked
beautifully. It ought be held out as a beacon of how other people
can do it."
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City lends a
hand to 1st time buyers
IT has already helped over
50 1st time buyers secure a house; now, Liverpool's 'Lend a
Hand' scheme is set to benefit even more people, thanks to
major City Council investment.
The Council is giving a big boost to house buyers with a £1 million
investment in the 2nd phase of the special mortgage scheme, set up
in partnership with Lloyds TSB.
Launched in March 2012, the 1st phase of Lend a Hand saw the Council
placing an initial £1 million with Lloyds TSB to underwrite
'top-ups' of up to 20% on mortgage loans.
It meant Lloyds TSB could boost the amount made available to 1st
time buyers, offering them 95% mortgages on similar terms to a 75%
mortgage, but without the need to provide the large deposit usually
required.
The scheme has been a massive success, with 55 local families
already snapping up the offer and securing their 1st home. The
Council is now aiming to build on that success by investing a
further £1 million to extend the scheme, helping many more people
take their first steps on the property ladder.
Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Ann
O'Byrne, said:- "Our Lend a Hand scheme is making a real
difference to house buyers in Liverpool, and it's great news that
we've already been able to help so many people get onto the property
ladder. This additional investment means we'll be able to help many
more local families move into their 1st house. It's about helping
people overcome the difficult economic times, supporting 1st time
buyers who are finding it increasingly difficult to become home
owners, and stimulating our housing market. This is another great
example of how we are working creatively with partners to deliver
services which improve people's lives. We're looking forward to
continuing to work with Lloyds TSB, taking advantage of their
mortgage expertise, to make this next phase of the scheme a massive
success."
Raising a deposit has become a major hurdle for many 1st time
buyers, because, in the current climate, most lenders are only
prepared to lend a maximum of 75% to 80% of the value of the
property, even if the applicant can afford a 95% mortgage. This
means applicants require a substantial initial deposit, which is out
of the reach of many.
By taking on the role of 'helper' through the Lend a
Hand scheme, the City Council is helping relieve the burden on
housebuyers. It means that, for a £100,000 property, buyers only
have to pay a deposit of £5,000, rather than £25,000.
Marc Page, mortgage director at Lloyds TSB, said:- "The aim of
Local Lend a Hand is to make the housing market more accessible to
1st time buyers in Liverpool. It's great to see that the scheme has
already helped a number of people into their new home so quickly,
and is now able to help even more. The excellent take up shows that
Lend a Hand really is providing a solution for people that might
otherwise be put off by the size of deposit they would need. Now
that the funding has been extended, we would urge first-time buyers
to come to us and find out more."
The money invested in the scheme from the City Council is placed in
a high interest account which can be used to cover any defaults in
payments from lenders. The indemnity would only be called upon if a
loss is made by Lloyds TSB. Any interest made by the Council is
ploughed back into the scheme to help fund further mortgages.
Subject to Lloyds TSB's usual lending criteria, 1st time buyers are
able to select a property within the local authority area, and
borrow up to a maximum loan size of £125,000. They will put down a
minimum 5% of the property price, and the City Council will provide
a cash backed indemnity; in place for a fixed 5 year period for each
mortgage granted; of up to 20%, as additional security.
The scheme specifically targets older houses in the City and is not
available for new build properties. The scheme is also not available
for buy to let or right to buy purchases.
Those interested in the scheme should visit their local branch of
Lloyds TSB for more information. |
