Milton Keynes City Council are highlighting several services intended to help to keep people safe, independent and at home this winter.
The publication of the initiatives come in the midst of a major wave of flu cases in the UK this winter, with NHS data revealing that 50% more patients are currently in hospital with flu than this time last year.
Milton Keynes City Council have discussed services. This includes their Occupational Therapists, who have helped more than 3,000 residents in the past year, recommending over 600 major home adaptations such as easy-access showers and stairlifts, and providing more than 5,000 pieces of equipment like hoists and grab rails.
Changes such as these are intended to make daily living easier and reduce the risk of falls and injuries that could lead to hospital visits.
The Community Alarm gives round-the-clock reassurance to vulnerable residents. This service provides personal alarms and sensors to more than 3,500 residents, giving peace of mind to them and their families. So far this year, the team has answered more than 120,000 calls and assisted around 1,800 people who had fallen, potentially avoiding hundreds of emergency hospital admissions.
The Milton Keynes Integrated Discharge Hub brings together teams from Milton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes City Council and Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust, combining expertise to ensure patients who are medically fit can leave hospital promptly and safely. The hub coordinates support such as home adaptations, care packages, and community services, helping people return home sooner and reducing unnecessary stays in hospital.
Meanwhile, the city council’s Public Health and Family Centre teams are promoting winter wellness through initiatives that encourage flu and COVID vaccinations for vulnerable residents, healthy living through the local Choose You service, and early intervention to prevent illness such as the ongoing project to provide free oral care products to children – nationally, tooth decay remains the main cause of hospital admission among children aged 5 to 9.
Councillor Donna Fuller, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Communities, said, “NHS England say as many as one in five emergency admissions to hospital may have been avoidable with the right care in place. Our teams are dedicated to giving care and to helping residents remain independent and safe in their own homes. By providing practical support and rapid response services, we’re minimising avoidable hospital admissions and ensuring people get the help they need before problems escalate.”
Joe Harrison, Chief Executive at Milton Keynes University Hospital, added, “Partnership between our trust and Milton Keynes City Council makes a real difference to how the hospital manages through winter pressures and ensures that local people get the care they need in the right setting. What is more, our joint efforts help to ensure that hospital beds are available for those who most need them.”