Home For Christmas blog - Alfie Young, Occupational Therapist

In the run up to Christmas, Solent NHS Trust colleagues are sharing their stories about how they are getting patients home for Christmas.

Today, it's the turn of Alfie Young, an Occupational Therapist from the Urgent Response Service in Southampton.

The service reduces hospital admission by providing therapy, nursing and care to people in their own homes.

Our service is a valuable asset to the NHS and one which is appreciated by our patients and their families, particularly around Christmas time.

I really enjoy working within Urgent Response. We often see people who have not previously engaged with health and social care services. This gives us a unique opportunity to support some of the most vulnerable people within our communities and provide them with the assistance they need so they can continue to live as independently as possible and reduces hospital admissions.

My role is very varied and includes urgent manual handling assessments and supporting patients with short term rehabilitation following hospital admissions. This is important at all times of the year, but particularly at Christmas. Christmas for many people involves spending time with their families and it can often cause a lot of distress for both patients and their relatives when people are admitted around the Christmas period. We have the unique ability to respond within a two hours, which gives us a fantastic opportunity to ensure patients can remain in their own home for their treatment, whilst allowing them to enjoy the Christmas period as much as possible.

I personally like working with Urgent Response at Christmas, because it’s a time where all healthcare workers pull together, to ensure our patients stay at home, wherever possible allowing them the opportunity to make valuable memories with their families.