Boost for independent living with new community equipment deal

Surrey residents will be given more support to stay living independently at home thanks to a new and improved contract with the community equipment provider Millbrook Healthcare.

People who use equipment and their carers will be able to give input on the development of the service as it continues to meet needs, improving convenience and giving greater control over orders through a new online ordering portal.

Millbrook Healthcare provides equipment such as walkers and bed rails and minor adaptations services, such as installing handrails and ramps, to enable people to live independently. Surrey County Council, in partnership with Surrey Heartlands and Frimley clinical commissioning groups, is signing a contract with Millbrook Healthcare to continue to run the service for an additional nine years, from April 4.

New developments with the contract will include an online system, known as CARES, which will give residents more control of their orders and enable them to track their deliveries, while also allowing professionals who arrange adaptations to focus on the needs of their clients, rather than on admin.

Sinead Mooney, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “We’re committed to helping people stay in their own homes and local communities for as long as possible and this service is a vital part of that. The independent living equipment that Millbrook Healthcare supplies to homes across Surrey supports individuals and their carers to carry on getting the most out of life and can stop them having to go into hospital or residential care when they don’t need to.

“We’re pleased to be continuing to work with Millbrook Healthcare to provide this service and look forward to seeing it develop further with input and feedback from residents. We want to maximise convenience, choice and autonomy for everyone who relies on the aids and adaptations that this service provides.”

Lee Davies, Commercial Director for Millbrook Healthcare, said: “We’re delighted to have retained this contract, which is a great achievement and testament to the good work by my Surrey colleagues.

“We’re looking forward to continue working with Surrey County Council to provide the community equipment service in Surrey. Our partnership will deliver greater value and outcomes for service users and the wider health and social care community.”