Mark Greatrex, Interim Chief Executive of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, on how the trust has been able to help residents with a wide variety of health issues throughout the coronavirus pandemic and will continue to do so.

This year has been a year like no other, our lives have been turned upside down due to COVID-19 and it has brought uncertainty to every aspect of our lives.

Working for the NHS during this time has been incredibly challenging for everyone, but we, along with our partners here in Wirral, at the hospital, in primary care, the local authority and third sector share a determination and commitment to do the very best we can for our patients, service users and the public.

At Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust we have around 1 million patient contacts every year, with each one of those contacts helping to keep people well.

Our Community Nursing Teams representing about a third of that total, and throughout 2020 this service has continued to care for people in their own homes, making visits to vulnerable patients keeping them well and safe.

This year every patient contact has meant so much more, as COVID-19 has restricted people’s contact with the outside world, including family and friends. Visits from our Adult Social Care teams, Community Nurses and Community Matrons have been a vital and welcomed chance for people to see a friendly face, have a chat and know that they are not alone during these challenging times.

Our lines have remained open, with our Central Advice and Duty Team providing advice and support to those who’ve needed it. We have kept in touch with people over the phone and anyone who has been struggling and requiring additional care and support has been able to call our team to get help from our dedicated social care staff.

Following this, people have been signposted to a range of services for tailored assessments to see what additional support they are eligible for.

We have supported the safe discharge of patients from hospital, ensuring they have the care they need at home whilst creating much needed capacity within the hospital. And more recently we began offering a COVID Virtual Ward Service providing specialist nursing care and support for people with COVID-19 who are able to self-care at home.

This service aims to reassure patients at home by remotely monitoring how they are and their symptoms, supporting them to self-care and recover at home. I look forward to sharing more about the new service in the coming weeks.

Our Therapists and Allied Health Professionals have also continued to deliver services. From the very start of the pandemic they have put processes in place to help determine which of their patients can safely receive care remotely, and those who need a face-to-face appointment.

Some conditions require more of a hands on approach or patients may not have access to technology. And so, measures have been put in place to ensure those patients can attend their therapy appointment and receive the care they need in a safe environment.

Our Health Visitors have been busy with new birth visits and child health assessments which have continued to take place with around 1000 advice calls very week.

Electronic birth packs have been sent to parents of new-borns giving them access to a wealth of information and support during their early days of parenthood.

The 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Team has also introduced telephone and video consultations which our families have welcomed with open arms. With the click of a button, parents and carers can have face-to-face conversations with a health visitor, school nurse or practitioner on their iPad, smart phone or laptop.

As a provider of community NHS health and social care services we have continued to see and treat people in their own homes and in clinics every day, prioritising the most vulnerable and the most high risk patients and service users.

We have continued to provide vital services; Community Nursing, Specialist Nursing, Therapy Services and Social Care -all supporting people to stay well, independent and in their own home wherever possible during the crisis.

We are here for you, and encourage anyone who has an appointment to continue to attend.

If you’re feeling unwell, don’t wait, please contact your GP.

Continue to access your local NHS services - Stay Safe and Stay Well.