Thanks to Jenny from Help and Care for details of this new service that many Islanders will find very valuable. Ed
Help and Care is piloting a new Telephone Support Service for people on the Isle of Wight living with the following Long Term Conditions: Mobility Issues, Falls and Fear of Falls; Leg Ulcers, and Continence Issues.
This new service will offer information, advice and support to those living with one or more of the above conditions, helping them manage their condition(s) through support groups.
Three factsheets are also being developed to be used by the telephone support service, these will shortly be available to download online or as hard copies that can be sent to you in the post.
Long-term health conditions
The Department of Health’s recent research into long-term health conditions found that:
Information provision is central to helping people take a greater role in the treatment of their long term condition. When asked ‘what would better help you to self-care and take a greater role in the care of your long term condition?’ the top three responses all concerned more information. Around one in five said it would be helpful to have information about:
- The condition (20%)
- The treatment (17%)
- How to avoid worsening the condition (16%)
Bearing this in mind, the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) asked Help and Care to set up and run a pilot telephone support service.
Who can refer?
Health, social and voluntary organisations can refer you with your signed consent. You can also refer yourself by phoning us for a referral form, by completing the online form at www.helpandcare.org.uk/isleofwight or by downloading the Consent and Referral Forms from the above web address and sending them back to us by fax or post (we can send you a pre-paid envelope), or you can email completed forms to [email protected].
You can also fill in these forms online at the above web address, using the web form. If you decide to participate, but then change your mind, you can simply contact us to say you no longer want to take part.
