Firefighters to keep taking Royal Stoke patients home

Funding for services extended to end of year

- Kerry Ashdown

RESIDENTS who fall or need help returning home from hospital will continue to be supported by firefighters after funding was extended until the end of this year.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service crews has responded to thousands of callouts as part of its partnership with health services in recent years.

The Falls Response Service aims to cut ambulance waits and hospital stays by responding to residents who have fallen but not suffered any injuries.

The Home from Hospital service was launched a year later to assist the NHS in discharging patients from Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Both started as three-month pilot schemes but have continued to be funded after proving successful.

At this month's Fire and Rescue Public Performance Meeting, an update was given on future arrangements.