A charity which has provided vital care and support services to vulnerable members of the local community for over 30 years, is the latest winner of the Big Society Award.

Working together with local health and social care teams, Rushden based Serve’s 25 strong ‘Rapid Response Team’ has successfully developed a unique approach to the swift and safe discharge and return of vulnerable older and disabled adult patients from hospital, so they can recover in the comfort of their own homes.

The Team works in partnership with local services to identify patients ready for discharge, and arranges for personalised care packages including; day and home care, community transport, minor adaptations to patients’ homes and hospital after care. These invaluable interventions are proven to support the continued independence of the patient, as well as benefit the National Health Service by reducing hospital readmissions.

Congratulating Serve on the award, the Prime Minister said: “In just a short time Serve’s Rapid Response Team has already returned over 1,500 patients safely back to their homes, freed up much needed hospital bed space and delivered almost two million pounds worth of savings.

“Their services are providing vital support to the most vulnerable members of the local community, ensuring they can maintain their independence and recover in the comfort of their own home.

“I would like to congratulate all the staff involved for their excellent work. Their Big Society Award recognises their hard work and dedication, working together with local partners to identify solutions that really work.

"They are driving real change, opening up public services and giving people more power in their local area, and I hope they continue to help even more patients to a swift recovery.”

Accepting the award, Barry Graves, chief executive Officer of Serve, said: “This is a fantastic honour for Serve, everybody has worked so very hard to support our Rapid Response team and all of our staff are justifiably proud.

"We have tried to embrace the concept of The Big Society and I believe that we have demonstrated that the voluntary sector can contribute in a meaningful way to deliver public services. I am grateful for this public recognition which underlines the high standards that Serve sets in every aspect of its work.”

To date Serve’s collaborative approach has successfully:

Returned 1,543 clinically fit discharged patients safely back to their homes;

Provided 12,300 hours of hospital aftercare;

Freed up an estimated 7,400 bed days; and

Saved around £1,841,000 of tax payers money.

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