A hub of support for

A hub of support for patients

The RFC support hub and its welfare benefit advice service offers help and advice to patients with long-term health conditions. It is a quiet and relaxing space within the Royal Free Hospital, with volunteers on hand to warmly welcome people, listen to and support them. Our team of welfare benefit advisors can help patients with the practical aspects of living with a chronic illness, such as helping to apply for benefits and securing suitable accommodation, sometimes preventing homelessness.

The hub has a strong relationship with trust staff, with patient referrals coming from medical consultants, clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapists and others. This service is made possible by the generosity of our donors.

Many patients have multiple health conditions, with attendant mental health challenges, making dealing with the complications of the benefit and housing systems very difficult. Between April 2019 and March 2020, our advisers helped 501 patients receive over £1.1m of support that they may not otherwise have accessed. We have had very powerful feedback about the hub from many other patients and also the

RFL staff who care for them, reinforcing its impact on patients and our hospital staff: “If it wasn’t for Gabrielle pulling together all the medical information to make my case, I couldn’t have done it by myself.” Angela “I had 16 months of reduced income and it was one of the scariest times of my life. Organisations like the hub help to fill in that missing bit of support and give you hope”. Ian “The hub is an invaluable service. I come across at least one patient a week who needs benefit or housing support who I refer. It allows me to spend time doing other things. I don’t have the time or expertise to be able to give advice.” Jane, clinical nurse specialist,

Royal Free Hospital

238 NEW PATIENTS

SEEN BY THE HUB ADVISERS FOR BENEFITS AND HOUSING ADVICE SUPPORT HUB IMPACT

1,000+ visitors to the hub

238 new patients seen at the hub (152 for welfare benefit support and 50 cases for housing support)

144 patients referred to the 12-week exercise programme

501 patients successfully awarded financial benefits

28 referrals to community services, eg counselling

13 cases where homelessness was averted

11 housing or disrepair approvals/ health adaptations obtained 8 patients rehoused

9amputee peer support groups held

11 Covid-19 shielding patients with no access to food connected with food or medication

100 patients with chronic conditions received massages in the hub to relieve stress and anxiety