Walfinch Home Care Southampton is playing a key role in helping reduce hospital waiting times and freeing up beds sooner by assisting patients in returning home quickly.
The company is part of a new pilot project that uses the Myra mobile app to help patients access home care, equipment, and other services to make their discharge process smoother and faster.
A Step Towards Faster Discharges
Angela Harding, the co-director and registered care manager at Walfinch Southampton, explained that their company is one of the care providers listed on the Myra app.
This app allows users to find necessary home care services, equipment, and other important resources that can support quicker hospital discharges.
She emphasized that delayed discharges create many problems, such as ambulances being stuck outside hospitals, treatments being cancelled, and patients’ health worsening.
By being involved in the pilot scheme, Walfinch is working to tackle these issues and improve the situation for patients, care providers, and the NHS.
The Impact of Delayed Discharges
According to the Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation, a significant number of patients—around 13,815 daily—were unable to leave acute hospitals in January 2025.
The main reason for these delays, affecting 36% of patients who had been in the hospital for over seven days, was waiting for processes related to hospital discharges and care transfers.
This highlights the need for efficient systems like the Myra app to address these delays.
The Role of Walfinch Southampton
Walfinch Southampton is expecting to receive care referrals from hospitals in the city through the Myra app. The team is also using their presence within local hospitals to promote their services and provide training in essential areas.
They have access to training facilities, including patient dummies, hospital beds, and hoists, which helps in preparing carers to provide the best service possible.
Amrit Dhaliwal, the CEO of Walfinch, sees the Myra app as a valuable tool that improves health and care services. He believes it benefits not just patients and the NHS but also local communities by making Walfinch services more accessible and visible in the area.
Supporting the Local Community
In addition to their work with the Myra app, Walfinch Southampton’s team is also committed to supporting their local community.
Angela Harding and Managing Director Laura Pineiro have been instrumental in organizing a care fair at St James’ Methodist Church in Shirley, Southampton.
The event aims to raise funds for Mountbatten Hospice, demonstrating the company’s broader commitment to community welfare.
Growth and Future Plans
Currently, Walfinch Southampton supports 23 clients and has a dedicated team of 15 carers. They are also planning to expand their team soon, in line with their growing role in supporting home care and hospital discharge processes in the local area.
