Charlton Athletic men’s first-team goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer recently teamed up with Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s (CACT) Health Improvement team to support the Hospital Discharge Programme at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.
The Hospital Discharge Programme, which is delivered in partnership between CACT and the hospital, is a vital service provided to assist patients who are preparing to leave the hospital. The key purpose of the programme is to ease the pressure on hospital bed availability, helping to free up space for new patients and supporting the NHS in its efforts to provide care.
Through a process known as social prescribing, CACT's Health Improvement team work alongside the hospital to address patients’ non-medical needs and ensure a smooth transition back to home life. This support includes services such as food shopping, house cleaning and arranging transportation for those who may otherwise struggle with these tasks after discharge.
Maynard-Brewer worked closely with Laura and Priya, two members of CACT’s Health Improvement team, to help support a patient ahead of their discharge. The goalkeeper helped with a food shop and gathered essential items for the person about to be discharged and then delivered the shopping directly to the hospital, ensuring that the patient had everything they needed to feel comfortable and supported once they returned home.