Improving Lives Plymouth
Life with a disability or long-term health condition can be extremely challenging. When the condition or disability has arisen as a result of medical negligence the changes to a person’s life can be even more difficult to accept. At such a difficult time, it is important to be aware that there is help and support available. To find out more about the local support which may be beneficial to our clients, some members of our medical negligence department recently had the pleasure of meeting with Improving Lives Plymouth.
Improving Lives Plymouth is a local charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities and long-term health conditions by providing information, advice and support services in Plymouth and the surrounding area.
With two main locations in Plymouth, in the city centre and in Mannamead, Improving Lives Plymouth was able to provide help to approximately 17000 people during 2017 alone. The support offered by Improving Lives Plymouth is varied and covers a number of conditions.
The charity runs an accredited chronic disease self-management programme for anyone aged 18 or over who has any long term physical or low-level mental health condition. The aim of this service is to assist in finding new ways for people to manage these conditions to lead to an improved quality of life. This is a free, self-referral service as it is funded by the NHS.
It also has a sensory solutions service which provides information, advice and equipment for people of all ages with concerns about sight or hearing. Family members, carers, friends, professionals and employers are welcome to use this confidential and impartial service provided by trained advisors. The service includes a well-stocked demonstration centre showcasing assistive technology designed to help people with sensory impairment live independently. They also offer a free home trial service for most equipment as well as many other services.
Improving Lives , together with Plymouth Citizen’s Advice, are working together in a joint contract with Plymouth City Council to provide a joined-up quality information and advice service across Plymouth known as Advice Plymouth. Improving Lives Plymouth runs the Advice Plymouth Drop-In service at Ernest English House, providing specialist casework and other one-to-one support.
Improving Lives Plymouth and Age UK Plymouth are also in partnership to provide a service called Caring for Carers. The service is available to those over 18 who look after a partner, family member or friend with an illness or disability. They can provide a carer’s assessment to look at the effect on the carer and identify any help that may be needed.
In addition to the above, improving lives Plymouth provide a number of other services that may be assistance to those with disabilities and long-term health conditions and if you feel that you, or someone you know would benefit from the help and support offered then further information can be found on their website at the link below:
https://www.improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk/
If you or someone you know has a disability or long-term health condition that you feel has arisen as a result of medical negligence and you would like to have a free confidential discussion about a potential claim, without any obligation, please contact: