How can Waiting Well help me?

How does it work?

This is one of a number of projects provided by Waiting Well. It supports people on the waiting list for orthopaedic (e.g. hip and knee) surgery.

Evidence shows that taking simple steps to improve your fitness, diet and mental health before surgery or treatment can help you to recover more quickly and makes it less likely that you’ll need to go back into hospital.

We offer non-medical support, on top of the support you’ll get from the hospital and your GP. This type of service is sometimes called social prescribing. We help you to feel more confident to manage your health and wellbeing, helping you before and after your surgery. Our link workers focus on what matters to you and supporting you to make positive choices. Where appropriate, we will link you to support and services in the community that can help you achieve your goals.

The project will initially run until December 2023. The project is sometimes called ‘PROSPeR’ – short for Perioperative Social Prescribing.

What support will I get?

Once you have been referred to the project and agreed to take part you will be put in touch with a Waiting Well Link Worker.

The link worker will meet with you and help you take steps to live well and prepare for your operation.

They will help you to identify areas in your life that could affect your health and wellbeing outside of hospital. They will enable you to take steps towards living well. Together you will develop an action plan, which may include a range of support and activities. This might include:

• Healthy eating and diet
• Getting more active
• Accessing specialist services and support
• Getting support around benefits and housing
• Developing positive relationships
• Getting involved in local groups and activities.

We can help you by providing someone:

• To talk to confidentially
• Who will not judge you or talk down to you
• Who is practical and helpful
• Who can help you decide what you’d like to do to feel healthier
• Who can find you services and activities that will suit your needs. In some instances they can go along with you to start with, so that you don’t have to go on your own
• Who can help you arrange appointments with medical and other services at times that suit you
• Who can help you to access your appointments, including online, phone and in person
• Who can give you support along the way
• Who can help you take control.

When will I get support?

Before your operation you will receive regular support for about 12 weeks. This will include working with you to develop an action plan and providing you with support towards achieving your goals.

After this support is completed we will continue to stay in touch while you remain on the waiting list for your operation.

We will also stay in touch with you for about 12 weeks after your operation, helping you to prepare for life post-operation and helping you to maintain any improvements to your wellbeing that were achieved before your operation.

At key points in your journey with us, we will ask you to complete appropriate surveys. These will help us to identify ways in which we can support you, and will also help us to assess the progress you are making with the support we’re providing.

How can I take part?

Patients who are able to access this service will be contacted via letter. You will be asked if you would like to take part. If we contact you there will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions before you decide whether to get involved.

If you agree to take part, your details will be passed on to a member of the project team, who will contact you within two working days to make an initial appointment.