More cash to help with health cost struggles

The trust said its 27 clinical nurse specialists were responsible for the healthcare needs of more than 3,000 young patients in the city

Families and patients in Wolverhampton struggling to meet extra costs brought on by healthcare needs are to benefit from a £60,000 initiative.

The city council and Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) have secured the funding from the government’s Household Support Fund.

Examples from them of how the money has been spent include a mobile phone for a diabetic to access apps for electronic monitoring and a utility bill payment which had increased from running extra equipment.

Council leader Stephen Simkins said people who were already facing challenges did not need extra financial worries.

“The last thing you need when you or your children are ill and undergoing treatment is to be worrying about money,” he said.

“People should not be in the position that they can’t afford small essentials that would help them get better.

"Although they can be small things, they all add up and the cost of living crisis has just exacerbated the situation."

'Makes all the difference'

The trust said 27 clinical nurse specialists were responsible for the healthcare needs of more than 3,000 young patients in the city.

They assess the needs of patients who are often long-term and well known to nurses and were aware of a family’s financial situation.

They could make sure support reached those who needed it without the need for means testing or submission of salary details, the organisations said.

“Much of this support goes beyond what we are usually able to provide as the healthcare provider,” Kirsty Lewis, from the RWT, said.

“Having access to this funding means we are able to support families in a more holistic way which makes all the difference.

“A huge part of our job is about improving outcomes in young people’s lives so no family should be disadvantaged because of a medical condition they are managing at home.”

In July, the council announced up to £2.6m was to be spent helping households through the cost of living crisis by opening more community food shops, providing children with access to food during holidays and tackling bed poverty.