THURSDAY, 14 OCTOBER, 2021

Photograph attached: Senior charge nurse Alisha Guild, Brooksbank Advisor Rosemary Watt and senior manager for NHS Tayside Mental Health and Learning Disability Inpatient Services Paul Monaghan

Welfare service launched at Carseview Centre

A Welfare Service offering patients face-to-face advice with debt and benefits has been launched at Carseview Centre in Dundee.

The service, which is being delivered by Brooksbank Centre and Services, means patients on all wards can ask for assistance to deal with any money worries while they are in hospital. Once discharged, patients will also receive ongoing support from the service in the community.

A full-time member of staff with extensive experience in dealing with debts and benefits is available to assist patients with a range of topics, including applying for benefits and discussing debt management options.

Paul Monaghan, senior manager for NHS Tayside Mental Health and Learning Disability Inpatient Services, said, “NHS Tayside is delighted to be working with Brooksbank Centre and Services to further enhance the range of care and support services provided to inpatients at Carseview Centre.

“Brooksbank are contributing to the multi-disciplinary care team by providing a range of effective money advice services that help patients while receiving care and support as both inpatients and following discharge.  

“The innovative service being delivered addresses issues that cause anxiety and stress for our patients and directly improves outcomes for patients and their families.”

The service, which has been funded by NHS Tayside through the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Outcome Framework, aims to promote increased wellbeing and financial security for those accessing mental health services.

Early evaluations of the Carseview Welfare Service show that many patients have been supported to claim benefits that they didn’t know about or felt they didn’t have the confidence to deal with themselves.

Brooksbank Centre Manager, Ginny Lawson said, “We’re delighted that we can provide a full-time worker to support inpatients and discharged patients from Carseview Centre. I’m also glad that people being supported by the Crisis Team have an easy route into money advice services.

“There is a very clear link between poor mental health and money worries and I feel that our service meets a long standing need for patients. Lots of advice services have growing waiting times because of the demand caused by COVID-19 so it’s vital that this group of patients has a dedicated service to support them and deal with emergency issues.”

Fay Costello, Senior Money Adviser at Brooksbank Centre, said, “Dealing with debts and navigating the benefits system is overwhelming for the majority of people but can be much more difficult for those dealing with mental health issues. Depression, anxiety and lots of other mental health conditions are aggravated by socio-economic problems. The Carseview Welfare Service helps patients find out about benefits they may be entitled to or get advice on housing issues.

“Carseview Welfare Service will help in lots of practical ways in the short term but hopefully contribute to long-term improvements in people’s mental and emotional wellbeing too.”

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138