Patient advice and liaison service (PALS)
This page contains information about other local organisations and services which you may find helpful, including for mental wellbeing, housing, independent living, benefits and reducing isolation.
Community partnerships
We are proud to work with voluntary sector and other partners in the community to help all our patients, staff and carers to access and navigate the wide-ranging services and support that are available across the communities we serve.
We work with local charities and other organisations to ensure our patients, staff and carers have access to community-based services at the right time in their patient journey, regardless of whether that care is received in hospital, home or community.
Connected Kingston
Connected Kingston is a site dedicated to helping Kingston residents find local activities and navigate local services. It is run by the Royal Borough of Kingston Council and Kingston Voluntary Action in conjunction with local charities and statutory organisations. Special training is available to anyone who regularly comes into contact with people that may be struggling to navigate or find local activities or services.
Support for older residents
Staywell is a local charity supporting older people over 65+ living alone or with another vulnerable person in Kingston. Kingston Hospital welcomes two Hospital Coordinators, Klaire and Shaheena, from Staywell who work alongside patients to help ensure a smooth discharge home from hospital through Help@Home. Eligible patients are currently entitled to receive 6hrs of Staywell’s complimentary support across a range of services in hospital and back home in the community.
What can we help with?
- Holistic assessment, supporting clients and their informal carers to prepare for the return to home
- Preparing the home for discharge / change in functional ability
- Key safe installations
- Micro-environment set-up
- Awaiting equipment deliveries
- Shopping, prescriptions, light meal preparation
- Help with appointments
- Help arranging transport
- Follow-up support after discharge and access to other Staywell services e.g. Help at Home, Handyperson, social prescribing, social activities to improve and maintain wellbeing, Information & Advice, including welfare benefit checks and applications
How to refer
Criteria: Borough of Kingston upon Thames resident, aged 65+, living alone or with another vulnerable person.
Referrals can be made via our Home from Hospital Coordinators:
- Klaire Head – klaire.head1@nhs.net
- Shaheena Khan – shaheena.khan@nhs.net
Contact us:
Phone: 020 8942 8256 (ask for Hospital Team)
Age UK Richmond offers information and advice to older people, their families and carers, such as transport advice, wills, probate and power of attorney.
Home Services team
The Home Services team help with practical jobs around the home, such as help with DIY, gardening and housekeeping.
Telephone: 020 8878 3625
Email: info
Website: www.
Nightingale Service
This free, short-term service for those leaving hospital or who have become unwell in the community.
How to access the service
Criteria: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames resident, aged 65+, living alone or with another vulnerable person. We are here for people who have no family or friends who can assist.
Referrals from a health or social care professional preferred.
What can we help with?
- Preparing the home for discharge / change in functional ability
- Keysafe installations
- Micro-environment set up
- Awaiting equipment deliveries
- Shopping & prescriptions
- Help with appointments
- Help arranging transport
- Access to other Age UK Richmond services and other wider voluntary and community services including: Welfare Benefit checks, social activities to improve and maintain wellbeing
How to make a referral
To make a referral please complete a referral form available on the Age UK Richmond website
Email your completed referral form to nightingale
Support for carers
Please see below signposting to various organisations that can support those who care for others. We also have carers webpages on our website, with information about the specific support the Trust provides.
Kingston Carers’ Network provide independent information, support and advocacy to carers of all ages, including young carers, for people living in, or caring for someone who lives in, the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
Support can be accessed in-person, virtually or via their Carers’ Support Platform.
KCN’s comprehensive advice and advocacy service covers a huge range of issues including benefits, community care, NHS continuing car, housing adaptations, employment rights and power of attorney/deputyship. KCN also offer a thriving Wellbeing Service encouraging carers to enjoy a life outside of their caring role in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Find out more, or register at www.
Carers in Kingston can also access support from Adult Social Care online or by calling 020 8547 5005. As a carer, you are entitled to an assessment of your own needs. This may be carried out by RBK or by Kingston Carers’ Network as a trusted partner.
We are working with community partners such as Richmond Carers Centre and Kingston Carers Centre to ensure that carers are better supported during their loved one’s journey in hospital, and beyond.
Do you or your loved one live in the Richmond borough? Get in touch to find out more information about help and support available to you: Contact Laura Greene, Head of Volunteering and Community Partnerships on laura.
Richmond Carers Centre can support carers living in or caring for someone living in the Richmond borough. Our team of Adult Carer Support workers can provide a listening ear and help in navigating local services. You do not have to be registered with us to call our support line 020 8867 2380.
Once registered with Richmond Carers Service, carers can access:
- Workshops for carers
- Regular groups and activities such as coffee mornings, walks round Kew gardens, creative sessions such as art, pottery and poetry etc.
- Breaks and leisure events such as theatre trips
- A grants programme to allow you to get a break from your caring role
- Wellbeing services including counselling
See more information on Richmond Carers Centre services.
Richmond Council is committed to supporting you in your caring role and has dedicated adult social care teams that can help you get the advice, guidance and support you need.
- Find information about local support available for carers here.
- Find information about a Carer’s Emergency Card and how you can apply for one here.
- Find out more information a Carer’s Assessment and how get one here
- For a guide on health and social care support available in Richmond click here.
Contact information for Richmond Adult Social Care:
- Telephone: 020 8891 7971
- SMS Phone: 07903 738043
- Email: adultsocialservices
@richmond.gov.uk
Referrals for an inpatient: please ask your nurse or doctor to refer you to via the Kingston Transfer of Care Hub
Contact us by emailing info
Crossroads Care is a local non-profit regulated service, providing high-quality, personalised home and community respite care and support services to Carers and the people they care for, of all ages and disability, including behavioural, emotional and/or medical needs – often those most vulnerable, at-risk, and socially isolated, living with dementia and/or multiple health conditions, usually chronic in nature.
Crossroads Care Carers Emergency Hospital Discharge Respite Service will support across a range of services in hospital and back home in the community, for Richmond Carers and/or the person they care for, helping to overcome some of the barriers, challenges and issues preventing a safe, effective and timely discharge, including:
- Holistic risk assessment – within the hospital and home environment
- Supporting Carers/cared-for to prepare for returning home
- Transport
- Preparing the home for discharge
- Liaising with necessary community services (e.g., Occupational Therapy)
- Awaiting equipment deliveries
- Up to 48 hours 1:1 home support, from our senior and experienced care support workers
- Shopping, collecting prescriptions, light meal preparation
Access to other Crossroads Care core provisions
- Respite Care/Support. access to our charitable, match-funded and/or private direct 1:1 support respite breaks
- Specialist Groups/Advice, access to our monthly sessions and regular discreet/interpersonal support and professional advice to manage personal and unfamiliar tasks
- Community Projects. direct referrals into our outreach projects. These meetups help to develop friendships and support networks
- Signposting (information/advice). ensuring Carers are aware of and able to access (local and national) services and relevant information
Mental health support
Richmond Wellbeing Service offers a range of free and confidential talking therapies and specialist support to help adults over 18 who are registered with a Richmond borough GP.
Telephone: 020 8548 5550
Website: www.
Support for independent living
CILS is a borough wide network of local support, information and advice and signposting services. They can help you to live as independently as possible within the community.
Richmond Aid
Telephone: 020 8831 6080
Email: info
Ruils is a local charity that supports children and adults with disabilities and the elderly to live independently, be part of their community and to live life to the full.
They provide information, advice, befriending and activities to clients and their families.
Telephone: 020 8831 6083
Email: info
Neighbourhood care networks
FiSH Neighbourhood Care supports people in Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen – in particular older people and those who may feel isolated and lonely.
Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Telephone: 020 8876 3336
Email: info
Ham and Petersham SOS is the local neighbourhood based charity for older and/or disabled residents of Ham and Petersham. We provide transport, weekly activities, monthly outings and practical help.
Monday to Friday, 10am–12pm
Telephone: 020 8948 1090
HANDS stands for Help a Neighbour in Distress Scheme - and that is exactly what we do. We act as good neighbours, providing voluntary support for those in need in Twickenham and St Margaret's, especially older people and those who are isolated and housebound.
Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 12.30pm
Telephone: 020 8891 3346
Kew Neighbourhood Association is a small, friendly charity based in Kew TW9 and connect local volunteers with local people who need practical help or would welcome companionship whilst still maintaining their independence.
Monday to Friday, 10am – 12pm
Telephone: 020 8948 8054
Email: mail
Richmond Good Neighbours' 100 volunteers provide services entirely free of charge. These services might include shopping on behalf of a client or indeed taking the client shopping, driving to and from medical or dental appointments, transportation to and from social clubs or to meet with friends and occasionally gardening.
Monday to Thursday, 9am – 1pm
Telephone: 020 3538 4060
Teddington and Hampton Wick Voluntary Care Group are a group of around 40 volunteers and we help about 220 elderly, housebound and disabled in the Teddington and Hampton Wick area.
Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 11.30am
Telephone: 020 8943 3112
Email: tedd_hwvcg
The Whitton Network can help with those tasks that a good neighbour would do for someone who has difficulty getting out and about.
Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 12pm
Telephone: 020 8755 1336
Email: whittonnetwork