A new scheme is operating in the A&E department at Stevenage's Lister Hospital to relieve pressure on NHS staff.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s is working with Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust and trialling a family support worker role in children’s A&E, to facilitate rapid discharge by offering community-based and preventative support.

Tina Douglas, for Barnardo’s, said: “Our aim is to work with families who don’t really need to be attending A&E. Often these people return to A&E as the issue for them has not been resolved, yet this is placing a significant burden on teams working within the department.

“Our support means we can help families with a wide variety of issues, from housing to safety and family problems. We can signpost to the GP and other organisations, depending on the needs of the family, and we also run family centres which can provide ongoing assistance as needed.”