Covid recovery services provide a lifeline to patients and the NHS
York healthcare provider Nimbuscare is working in partnership with a wide range of organisations across the city to help both patients and NHS services recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The not-for-profit organisation, which is made up of 11 GP practices working collaboratively across the city, has administered more than half a million vaccinations at the York Vaccination Centre at Askham Bar since the pandemic began, but is also playing an integral role in the city’s recovery effort.
Nimbuscare has been working with York Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) since the pandemic began to make daily welfare telephone calls to thousands of local people who are self-isolating to see how they’re coping with their symptoms, and ensure that they can access food and medical supplies.
Patients at higher risk from Covid-19, such as older people, those with health conditions and pregnant women, are offered the opportunity to monitor their oxygen levels at home using a device called an oximeter that they can use on their fingertip. They’re also offered guidance on when to seek additional medical advice.
Nimbuscare also provides medical care to patients at Peppermill Court in York, a 12-bed, step-down unit for people with Covid-19 who are discharged from hospital but not well enough to look after themselves at home. Set up by City of York Council in partnership with York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it’s a residential unit for people who are well enough to be discharged from hospital but have Covid-19 and still require some medical care. Patients are typically discharged from the unit once they’ve completed their period of isolation. The unit was established in January 2022 in response to an identified need for such a service to ease the pressure on local hospitals during the busy winter period, and offer support to those with Covid-19 who are well enough to leave hospital but still require some care. It will continue to be available for patients as long as it is needed.
Last month, Nimbuscare began working in partnership with York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to ensure that patients with Long Covid are able to access the NHS resources that they need to recover, and understand when they need to highlight any concerns they may have about their recovery. This involves contacting them are regular intervals to tell them what signs to look out for and when to contact their GP if they’re not recovering as well as hoped.
Another project will see Nimbuscare linking up with City of York Council and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to develop a support system for people waiting for an operation. This means checking their blood pressure, carrying out blood tests and doing everything we can to ensure that they are well enough to have their operation when the time comes.
Dr Daniel Kimberling, NImbuscare’s Medical Director (Operational), said: “We’re proud to be working with partner organisations across the city to offer a wide range of healthcare services aimed at helping both individual patients and the NHS to recover from the impact of Covid-19.
“We know that services offered by our Covid Recovery Hub, such as the welfare telephone calls for people who are isolating, have been a real lifeline for people, resulting in them feeling reassured but also ensuring that when people do need extra help or medical care they’re able to access it quickly.
“The winter months are an incredibly busy time for our local hospitals and many of these services are aimed at easing the pressure on them in order to help the NHS recover from the effects of the pandemic. Whether that’s by helping to ensure that patients are fit and well when the time comes for them to have their operation, freeing up hospital beds by caring for those with Covid-19 at Peppermill Court, or supporting those suffering from the Long Covid with their recovery, it’s wonderful to see organisations across York working together on the city’s Covid recovery effort.”
Councillor Carol Runciman, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care: “This is another fantastic example of how organisations across the city have come together to support people through the pandemic. From the vaccination effort, to welfare calls to residents, step down care at Peppermill court for people with Covid-19 who are discharged from hospital but not well enough to look after themselves at home and so much more there is much to be proud of.
“We look forward to continue to build on these relationships to support residents through the pandemic and also as part of wider efforts to improve health outcomes.”
