A council housing team has been easing the bed-blocking pressure on the NHS by helping patients leave hospital earlier than they might otherwise done.

Officers at Maidstone Borough Council have in the last year alone assisted 676 Maidstone residents to leave hospital, or to avoid a hospital admission in the first place.

The ‘Helping You Home’ team apply themselves to situations where hospital patients are unable to go home due to issues with safety or adjustments needed in their homes.

The council’s chief executive, Alison Broom, recently visited Maidstone Hospital and shadowed the Integrated Discharge Team who work closely with the Helping You Home Team.

She said: “This was a great opportunity to see at first-hand how the collaboration between Maidstone Hospital and Maidstone Borough Council ensures that our residents are supported to get home safely as soon as they are well enough, which both assists their recovery and reduces pressure on beds – a genuine win-win.”

“This opportunity to hear from the lived experience of patients and our staff will help us sustain and improve this excellent service.”

The collaborative work ensures that Maidstone residents, who are ready to come home from hospital, have all of the provisions and support in place to ensure they stay at home and are not readmitted to hospital.

Stephanie Line, the Integrated Discharge Team Leader said: “Helping You Home provides the often missing link between a life before hospital and then a life after.

“Having worked within the IDT and lead the team since the service began, I have seen the difference in what we are able to provide and support the residents of Maidstone.

“The team and the service provided is embedded in our practice, they listen to our problems then develop future service provision to meet our needs. We cannot thank them enough.”

The ‘Helping You Home’ team was set up in 2017.

It works with a variety of agencies to offer a wide range of services to help people adjust.