LIFE CHANGING HEALTH SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY
Hundreds of elderly Teddington and Hampton Wick residents will benefit from a pioneering NHS scheme bringing routine hospital tests directly to their homes.
Under the groundbreaking project, specialist healthcare teams will conduct essential medical checks, using state of the art mobile scanning equipment.
The teams will be made up of doctors, paramedics and nurses.
They will carry out heart scans, blood tests, vaccinations and look for any health issues. It’ll mean many vulnerable individuals no longer need to travel to local GP surgeries or hospitals for some tests.
The home visits will be arranged through the person’s local GP surgery. Their GP will contact them to explain the service and arrange a visit .
The mobile project aims to ease the strain on local healthcare facilities while providing safer, more comfortable care for the area’s older population.
By shifting routine diagnostics from clinical settings straight to the living room, the community-based service marks a major shift in how local healthcare is delivered to those who need it most.
The scheme is being piloted in the Teddington and Hampton Wick area and then rolled out to the wider Richmond Borough.
The initiative is being part funded by the Teddington Memorial Hospital League of Friends and local elderly charity Teddington & Hampton Wick Voluntary Care Group. It will be overseen by the Richmond GP Alliance (RGPA).
Coordinator of the scheme, Penny Taylor said: “So many elderly, infirm people feel marooned in their own homes, unable to attend essential, routine health checks. Now, they needn’t worry about getting to a hospital or a GP, we will go to them.”
Ann Murray of Teddington Memorial Hospital League of Friends said: “We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic service. It means people who are unable to leave their homes can receive essential care in the comfort of their own home. It’ll also help reduce pressure on local hospitals like Teddington Memorial Hospital by avoiding hospital attendances.”
Joan Downer of Teddington & Hampton Wick Voluntary Care Group said: “So many people we help are unable to leave home easily or at all, this new service will be life-changing for them. We are proud to support the project.”