A WELLNESS support service for socially isolated people across Teesdale has identified hundreds more people that need help than first thought.

The Teesdale Wellness Service, run over the past year by the Durham Dales Health Federation (DDHF), has stated that the number of people in need - including those with depression, alcoholism and dementia - had been "blown out of the water", with almost 800 contacts made.

The original target was 300 and although many are elderly, the youngest person identified was aged 27 and the oldest aged 99.

The service by the DDHF Health Care Coordinating team has been working in partnership with the Teesdale Action Partnership (TAP) and provides non-clinical support. It also has links with the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Service.

Tracey Stores, who leads the DDHF coordinating team, said: "There are many people living in social isolation in the rural areas across Teesdale.

"We identified a number of vulnerable people who might be in need of support through the Teesdale GP practices. But there are many hundreds more – our original number has been blown out of the water.

"It could be that some people need simple things – like a walking stick or where to go to get a gardener or home care – and we can signpost them to the right place.

"But we are also identifying many people with more serious issues, such as depression, alcohol abuse or the onset of dementia, who may need an onward referral. A lot of issues are non-clinical and don’t need GP input, so we can help to ease the pressure at practice level by ensuring people access the most appropriate service.’

Ms Stores added that although not all are geographically isolated, a significant number live in far flung homes across the dale where they have lived all their life and wanted to remain independent.

Katie Roberts, Teesdale coordinator, added: "People sometimes get very defensive and worried that we are interfering so in a lot of instances it is about building a relationship and gaining trust.

"It may be that a husband and wife have lived on a farm and one dies, leaving the other alone. Deteriorating health can make people feel very isolated and they worry that we are going to ‘put them in a home’.

"But that’s not what we are here for. We have made 783 contacts so far and it’s always about offering the best support we can to them and their families."

The service was funded for a year by TAP and the DDHF is hoping the funding will be extended.

Ms Stores said: "What our work has shown is there is a significant need for support in Teesdale, and though the majority are elderly, we have helped people in their 20s as well as their 90s."

DDHF includes GP practices in Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle, Cockfield, Evenwood, Gainford, Crook, Willington, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Butterknowle and Stanhope. It exists to maintain and develop the provision of General Practice in the rural and urban communities of the Durham Dales.

For more information visit ddhf.co.uk or call 01388-665910. You can also email team@ddhf.co.uk