Hay Mills Community Fire Station’s new partnership with a West Midlands medical practice is set to boost vulnerable patients’ fire safety. Firefighters from Hay Mills Community Fire Station are teaming up with Hall Green Health (HGH) to identify practice clients who would benefit from one of our free Safe and Well visits.
give fire safety advice
Patients who have recently been discharged from hospital or have hearing difficulties, for example, could be referred to Hay Mills Community Fire Station, so fire crews can visit them at home. During the visit they will check that the property if fitted with working smoke alarms, give fire safety advice and discuss general safety in the home.
Doctors at Hall Green Health conduct a daily review of patients who need home visits
If other help’s needed, such as hearing-impaired alarm systems, firefighters will offer support and assistance. Doctors at Hall Green Health conduct a daily review of patients who need home visits. Any considered vulnerable will now, with their consent, be referred to Hay Mills Community Fire Station - electronically and a Safe and Well visit will be arranged.
managing risk and preventing more serious situations
Watch Commander Darren North, of Hay Mills Red Watch, said: “We know that there can be direct links between fires in people’s homes and their health. By working in this way with Hall Green Health we will more quickly identify vulnerable patients who need our help.”
John Hood, practice manager at HGH, added: “West Midlands Fire Service’s proactive approach to managing risk and preventing more serious situations reflects our own approach to caring for our patients. We encourage patients to take better care of themselves and aim to address medical issues early, before they become more serious. The fire service prefers to stop fires happening in the first place, rather than have to fight them. I hope we’ll be the first of many practices to work with the service so that more people can benefit from their services.”