How the RAHERE service is supporting recovery beyond the heart
Heart patients in east London can now get personalised support with issues such as money, housing, employment and mental wellbeing as part of their recovery.
For many cared for at Barts Heart Centre, recovery involves more than excellent clinical care alone. Cardiologists at the centre recognised that many patients face significant financial, emotional and practical challenges that impacted their recovery and long-term health. To help tackle this, the RAHERE service has relaunched this week in partnership with the Bromley by Bow Centre, part of Family Action.
By connecting patients with the right support in their communities, the service aims to promote a fuller recovery and reduce the likelihood of hospital readmission. The support available is free for patients and can include helping them feel confident returning to work, connecting them with physical and mental wellness activities in their community, and assisting with benefit applications. To access this, the clinical team refer the patient to a dedicated team of social prescribers who then work with them to identify appropriate areas of support.
First introduced as a pilot three years ago with funding from Barts Charity, the service has been relaunched following the success of this trial period with a new name and now supported by St Bartholomew's Hospital Charitable Fund and Abbott Medical.
The service has already made a significant impact. Nearly half of the 691 patients who were referred to the service during the trial period said their quality of life had improved following support, and those reporting severe concerns fell from 54% to 31%. Importantly, four in five patients supported were men, a group traditionally less likely to access social prescribing services.
In a patient’s own words: “The social prescriber came into my life like an angel.”
With this launch, the service is continuing to evolve to ensure it meets patients’ needs. Following feedback from service users, a key focus will be developing employment and retraining support for people returning to work after a heart attack.
Tara Mastracci, complex aortic surgeon at Barts Heart Centre, has led on the introduction of this service since the pilot.
“Having a heart attack or serious heart condition can affect every part of someone’s life, from their health and confidence to their finances and ability to work. We know that these pressures can make recovery even harder. This service allows us to look at the whole person, not just their heart, and make sure they can get the support they need to recover and move forward."
Sotiris Antoniou, Director of Clinical Services at St Bartholomew's Hospital, is now leading this service alongside Vivienne Monk, Strategic Projects Lead. On the future of the RAHERE service, Sotiris shared:
“We are excited to see this service grow and reach even more patients cared for at Barts Heart Centre. As it continues to evolve, we want to focus on working proactively within our communities to identify people at cardiovascular risk, connect them with personalised support and empower them to make positive changes that improve their long-term health and reduce their risk of future cardiovascular events.”