The monthly event, held in collaboration between Kingston Hospital Foundation Trust, Kingston Carers Network and the New Malden and Worcester Park Primary Care Network, gives carers the chance to access useful information including emotional, legal, medical and social prescribing support, all under one roof.
The One Stop Shop is part of the Living Well Hub, held each week in The United Reformed Church in New Malden.
The hub, which has been running since September 2022, is overseen by a social prescriber who helps signpost attendees to valuable local services, as well giving them the opportunity to enjoy a freshly prepared lunch and a chance to chat to advisers from the Department of Work and Pensions and a health visitor for those with children under five.
This way of working is true integrated care and has the potential to make a real difference to local carers, which in turn protects the NHS by helping to keep people out of hospital if they don’t need to be there.
Neil Churchill OBE, Director for People and Communities at NHS England
Before visiting the one stop shop, Neil spent the morning at Kingston Hospital leaning about the work being done to support carers when their cared for person is in hospital.
He said: “The results of collaboration between the hospital, primary care and the voluntary sector are clear to see. This way of working is true integrated care and has the potential to make a real difference to local carers, which in turn protects the NHS by helping to keep people out of hospital if they don’t need to be there.
“Care must extend beyond the strictly medical and this service does that by offering support for the effects of the cost of living, poor mental health and the risk of isolation and loneliness. Sometimes a cup of tea with others in the same situation as yourself can make all the difference.”
Kingston GP, Nick Merrifield, said: “We are thrilled that Neil joined us today and had the chance to meet the team as well as the carers themselves who do such an important role, sometimes at the detriment of their own health. I am glad that he could see the power of partnership working in action.”