Resource Topic: Patient experiences

Sarah was referred to us after undergoing hernia repair surgery and dealing with a perforated bowel, which left her with an open abdominal wound. She was initially fitted with a Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) dressing to help promote healing. Sarah required VAC dressing changes twice a week and was under our care for four and a half weeks before transitioning to care at her GP surgery. At that point, her VAC dressing was replaced with a conventional dressing to continue her healing process.

At the start of her treatment, Sarah felt anxious about managing the VAC dressing on her own. To help ease her concerns, we organised discussions with the visiting nurses to provide reassurance and address her worries. With consistent support and guidance, Sarah gradually built confidence and began to feel more comfortable managing her treatment independently. Eventually, she was even able to go outside, a significant milestone in her recovery.

As part of her treatment plan, regular photos of Sarah’s wound were taken with her consent. These images were shared with Tissue Viability Nurses (TVNs) for expert review. Based on their feedback, adjustments were occasionally made to her treatment, such as modifying the VAC pressure or changing dressing components. Each change was thoroughly explained to Sarah, so she always felt informed and involved in her care.

During her treatment, we ensured flexibility by providing visits to two locations: her home and her mother’s home. This approach allowed Sarah to manage her recovery in a way that suited her lifestyle, helping to reduce her anxiety during the process.

While Sarah sometimes experienced issues with the VAC pump or dressing, which is not uncommon, it understandably caused her increased anxiety. However, the strong communication between Sarah and the Virtual Ward team allowed us to respond quickly and resolve any problems. Extra home visits were arranged when necessary to ensure that Sarah’s concerns were addressed and that her wound healing progressed smoothly without complications.

After the completion of her VAC treatment, Sarah transitioned to her GP surgery for conventional dressings to continue the healing process. Although she felt a bit anxious about the change, she was reassured and given advice on how to manage the dressing independently, if needed, between her final visit with us and her first GP surgery appointment. This smooth transition ensured that Sarah continued to feel supported throughout her journey to recovery.

Thanks to the comprehensive care and support provided, Sarah’s Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score increased from 80 at the start of treatment to 99 upon discharge, reflecting a significant improvement in her comfort and confidence.

“The support I received helped me feel less anxious and gave me the confidence to take control of my recovery. It was such a relief to be able to manage my treatment at home.” – Sarah

John was referred to HomeLink Healthcare in the first week of a new service commissioned by an NHS Trust in the East of England. Living in a care home, John had a history of stage 3 chronic kidney disease, dementia, and pre-diabetes, and needed specialised care for a wound on his right big toe that required weekly dressings.  

Upon receiving the referral, HomeLink worked closely with the district nursing team to agree on a care plan and visited John within 24 hours to provide the required dressing and wound care. During this initial visit, the nurse noted concerns about the wound’s condition and discussed them with the care home manager. Due to these concerns, an urgent referral was made to John’s GP, complete with a photo of the wound for a clearer assessment. Within 24 hours, John was prescribed antibiotics and referred to a chiropodist for further evaluation.  

When the same HomeLink nurse returned a week later to review John’s progress, the improvement was clear. John reported less pain and discomfort, and the wound showed significant signs of healing. These positive changes were updated in his care plan, and the steps taken by the nurse were also discussed in the weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. The Trust thanked the HomeLink team for their quick action, which prevented further deterioration in the patient’s wound.  

By the third visit, John’s progress was evident not just in his physical recovery but in his overall wellbeing. He was sitting in the day room, happily engaging with other residents in the home – a testament to his improved condition. The care home staff expressed their gratitude for the support provided, noting the positive impact it had on John’s health and mood. John himself was happy to have his toe dressed and continued to show positive signs of recovery.  

John’s story demonstrates the positive impact that HomeLink’s service has had and the importance of early identification in deteriorating patients. The HomeLink team’s responsive, compassionate, and personalised approach not only improved John’s physical condition but also enhanced his overall wellbeing.   

Anne was admitted to hospital after experiencing delirium and confusion, a significant change from her usual independent lifestyle. Before her hospital stay, she lived with her daughter in a terraced house, managing her daily activities such as washing, dressing, preparing meals, and taking her medication with minimal support. Although Anne had some hearing loss and needed glasses for reading, she maintained her independence with the help of a perching stool, commode, and frame.

After her hospital admission, it was clear that she would need extra support at home to help her recover. The hospital team referred Anne to HomeLink Healthcare for a short-term care package aimed at helping her regain her independence.

The HomeLink team carried out an initial assessment, which highlighted that Anne needed four visits a day to assist with personal care, medication prompts, meal and drink preparation, and to encourage mobility.

At the start of her care, Anne’s Rockwood frailty score indicated moderate frailty, but with support from our team, she showed steady improvements during her recovery. Over a period of six days, she received 22 visits, and each encounter recorded progress – new abilities, reaching goals, and gradually requiring less assistance from the team. By the end of her care, Anne’s Rockwood frailty score had improved by 20%, showing a significant recovery. Her mBarthel score also increased, moving from 87 (moderate dependency) to 95 (slight dependency), and her EQ-5D-5L score improved from 80 to 100, reflecting her enhanced quality of life.

Anne and her daughter both remarked on how pleased they were with her progress. By the time the final two visits took place, Anne was moving around on her own, independently managing her washing, dressing, meal preparation, and medications, with minimal assistance from her daughter.

In mutual agreement with Anne and her daughter, the visits were gradually reduced, and an end date for the service was agreed. During our final visit, Anne and her daughter both expressed their gratitude for the service and the support that helped Anne recover and return to her usual routine. 

Anne’s story illustrates the importance of personalised, home-based care in empowering patients to regain their independence. With the right level of support and guidance, Anne was able to return to her everyday life in just a short period of time. Her experience highlights how HomeLink’s approach – focused on tailored, patient-centred care – can help individuals recover more comfortably at home, avoiding extended stays in hospital and reducing reliance on long-term services. 

Michael was admitted to hospital after experiencing severe pain in his lower back, stemming from bone metastases related to prostate cancer. During his stay, he became physically deconditioned, spending most of his time in bed and struggling to walk. Understandably, he felt anxious and overwhelmed by his situation.

To support his recovery at home, Michael was referred to HomeLink Healthcare for a temporary package of care, providing three visits a day to bridge with ongoing social care support. In preparation, our team met with his two supportive daughters to discuss how we would assist Michael in regaining his independence.

On the day of his discharge, Michael waited nervously in the hospital’s discharge lounge. To ease his transition, one of our nurses, who was scheduled to visit him that afternoon, came to introduce herself and quickly built a rapport with him. This thoughtful gesture provided much-needed reassurance and helped alleviate some of his anxiety about returning home.

Once at home, Michael settled in well and his daughters stayed with him for the first few nights. A follow-up conversation with one of his daughters just a few days later revealed how much better her father was feeling. She expressed how grateful the family was for our support, explaining that Michael looked like a different person, sitting in his chair with his grandchildren around him, smiling and much improved.

In the first few weeks after discharge, HomeLink nurses assisted Michael in taking short walks around his garden, which he really enjoyed. Twice-weekly physiotherapy sessions were also arranged, and his progress was remarkable. His mobility steadily improved, and the number of daily visits was gradually reduced as he became more independent. An occupational therapy home assessment was also completed to ensure that the necessary equipment was in place to support his continued recovery at home.

In the final week of his care, the focus shifted to helping Michael build confidence in his daily activities. Nursing staff encouraged him to start preparing his own meals, a significant step toward regaining his independence. By the end of his care, Michael’s mBarthel score improved from 60 (severe dependency) to 73 (moderate dependency), reflecting his increased ability to carry out daily activities.

His daughters expressed their gratitude for the positive impact on their father’s mental health and physical recovery, noting the significant improvement they had witnessed since his return home. Michael himself shared his appreciation for the kindness and patience shown by the HomeLink team, expressing how grateful he was for the compassionate care that had supported his recovery.

96-year-old Eileen faced significant mobility challenges following a diagnosis of a basal cell carcinoma on her right cheek and a left lower limb arterial ulcer. With her condition being palliative and under specialised care, her mobility had declined, impacting her independence and quality of life.

Eileen was referred to HomeLink Healthcare in September 2023 by the hospital’s Early Supported Discharge (ESD) team for physiotherapy. The primary goal was to enhance her stability during step transfers to a commode or chair with the assistance of two people or using a Sara Steady, and to aid her in regaining her mobility with a walking frame. At the time, Eileen could only manage short distances with assistance.

During her initial assessment, Eileen was able to demonstrate a step transfer from her wheelchair to a recliner using her wheeled Zimmer frame with minimal assistance. This initial progress was encouraging, showing potential for further improvement. She also managed to mobilise short distances in her living room using a walking frame with one person assisting her.

Determined to regain her independence, Eileen diligently followed the exercise plan provided by the HomeLink Healthcare physiotherapists. Over the course of her visits in September and October, she showed remarkable progress. Her range of motion, particularly in her shoulders, improved significantly. Her strength increased, and most importantly, her confidence grew.

Eileen’s next of kin expressed a desire to see her mobilise to the commode independently, a goal that became increasingly achievable as she continued her exercises. By the end of her physiotherapy sessions, Eileen was not only completing her exercises daily, but also moving independently around her home.

In a heartfelt message to the HomeLink team, Eileen’s niece shared the tremendous impact of the physiotherapy support her aunt received. She added:

“I just wanted to say thank you for sending the physios back in September/October for my aunty, it’s just done her so much good. We have continued the recommended exercises, probably missed about two days in the last 6-7 months, she’s done really well!

The result of the physio is that she is now no longer needing district nurses for her ulcers and that’s because we have managed to get circulation back into her legs, one of which they wanted to amputate. Thank you to everyone that had a hand in that and please continue it. This is a very important service!”