Stewarts is proud to launch Onward, the most comprehensive patient support service in the UK. A not-for-profit organisation, Onward is dedicated to supporting people who are in hospital with life-changing injuries or serious illness.
Working alongside its hospital partners – the first being University Hospital Southampton and the Wessex Trauma Network – Onward’s role is to ensure patients and their families receive the financial, emotional, legal and practical support they need, when they need it most. Onward provides all patients with access to a variety of free support services designed to supplement their hospital care and ensure the best possible outcome. Onward together.
Onward director and Head of Personal Injury at Stewarts Dan Herman said:
“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with University Hospital Southampton and the Wessex Trauma Network to ensure their severely injured and seriously ill patients receive the support they need, when they need it most. All services provided by Onward and its partners – assistance with welfare benefits, clinical issues, financial difficulties, legal problems, together with access to peer support and counselling – are completely free of charge. The aim is to reduce anxiety and stress and to allow patients to focus on their rehabilitation: research has shown that doing so helps recovery and produces better overall clinical outcomes.”
Emma Bowyer, Major Trauma Centre Manager at University Hospital Southampton and Wessex Trauma Network Manager said:
“I am really excited to be working with Onward to set up this vital service for patients. As an award-winning Major Trauma Centre and high performing Major Trauma Network this service will ensure that all our severely injured and seriously ill patients benefit from, not only excellent clinical care, but also first-class holistic support to ensure patients can achieve the best recovery possible.”
Onward will be supported by the Pro Bono team at Stewarts, one of the UK’s leading law firms. They will provide free legal advice to patients on a wide range of issues including debts, powers of attorney, deputyships, insurance contracts, housing, employment, care funding, family problems and compensation claims.
Kara Smith, Head of Pro Bono at Stewarts, said:
“I am delighted that our Pro Bono team will be providing support and assistance to the patients and families at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Our Pro Bono team, which has been operating since 2012, has helped thousands of patients with their legal and practical issues on a free of charge basis. That support has provided much needed reassurance and relief to patients and their families and has enabled them to focus on their recovery. We are excited to work with Onward and are delighted to offer our pro bono services to UHS’s patients.”
Onward will also be supported by Active Care Group, the UK’s leading provider of complex care and case management, which will provide clinical advice and assistance to patients both while they are preparing for discharge and when they are back home.
Janette Wynn of Active Care Group said:
“We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Onward and the team at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and the Wessex Trauma Network. This is an amazing opportunity to ensure that patients and families receive all the elemental support they would need in addition to their hospital care and look to receive the best possible outcomes for all. As a group we can offer an array of support in conjunction with Onward and use our vast experience and expertise to help patients when they need it most”.
Learn more about Onward here: https://www.onward.org.uk/
You can find further information regarding our expertise, experience and team on our Personal Injury page.
If you require assistance from our team, please contact us.
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