This week a vulnerable client needed to register with a GP as close to his home as possible. He asked for help after getting nowhere on his own.
Our volunteer adviser Catherine found out it was first necessary to contact NHS Allocations. They would send a letter to the client introducing him to the allocated surgery. He is unable to read or write and agreed when she offered to call on his behalf.
Then the lockdown intervened.
With the Allocations team working at home*, letters were not possible at the moment. They would email an allocation letter and registration form for the client to complete. Catherine explained that he had no access to email and they agreed to complete the allocation form and email details to the allocated surgery. He would have to contact them to find out how they want to register him.
Just one episode in a day of giving #AdviceAtHome.
From now on however Catherine will keep in touch. The CARBS team has set up a vulnerable clients contact group to check in with everyone regularly. The idea is to make sure they’re OK but also (and just as important) to have a chat!