Patient story - The benefits of having a PHB during the COVID-19 outbreak

This is the story of one of our Personal Health Budget (PHB) holders living in North Somerset. He has been a PHB holder since August 2018 and holds a Managed Account with Partner2Care (P2C).

When the Coronavirus pandemic caused the UK’s first national lockdown in March 2020 P2C were in the middle of recruiting a new Personal Assistant (PA) for this PHB holder. The PA’s Enhanced DBS check and training were delayed due to COVID-19, however we were able to employ the PHB holder's brother to cover the new PA’s shifts until her start date could be confirmed.

Our PHB holder's other two PAs were furloughed from April – August 2020 but his brother was able to continue to work for him as he lives in the same household allowing the PHB holder's mum some much needed support with his care.

Throughout the pandemic P2C have adapted and changed as a service to accommodate the needs of our PHB holders and have continued to offer the most up to date advice and guidance at every stage.

Having a PHB and Managed Account with P2C has meant that P2C have taken on a lot of employer responsibilities such as furloughing staff and obtaining PPE on the employer’s behalf. In already worrying times, this support alleviates any additional pressures for our PHB holders and continues to allow them choice and control over their care.

At the beginning of October 2020 the PHB holder was admitted to Weston General Hospital with Aspiration Pneumonia. He was later transferred to Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI).
During this time P2C remained in contact with the Intensive Care Unit sister at the BRI to keep up to date with his progress. We also liaised with the local Clinical Commissioning Group, in particular his Funded Care Learning Disability Nurse and the Brokerage Team to ensure his safe and timely discharge from hospital (November 2020). P2C also organised for his PAs to be retained during this lay-off period.

By having a fully trained team of PAs ready to start work with the PHB holder once he was home, his discharge from hospital was able to be as soon as he was medically fit, reducing pressure to NHS services (he was receiving 24 hour care whilst admitted) and minimising his risk of contracting COVID-19 whilst in hospital.