Category: Health

The British Red Cross supports health and social care projects around the UK. From helping people home from hospital to supporting people to feel less lonely, we can help.

Home from hospital: “Breaking my hip was the best thing that happened to me”

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Carol Looby

Carol Looby is now a volunteer for the British Red Cross, helping others through one of our home from hospital services.

Four years ago, Carol Looby passed out while walking home after giving blood. She broke her hip – but says it’s the best thing that ever happened to her.

That’s because Carol’s accident led her to a British Red Cross home from hospital service. We not only helped with her recovery, but became a new venture for her too – Carol now volunteers for the service.

“It’s changed my life totally,” she said.

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10 things you didn’t know about the Red Cross’ health and social care work in the UK

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From helping people home from hospital to loaning wheelchairs, the British Red Cross does a lot more to promote health and wellbeing in the UK than you might think. In fact, we have been providing health and social care services for around 70 years.

Here are ten things you may not know about our health and social care work in the UK.

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Health and social care crisis: your questions answered

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Older woman being discharged from hospital

There have been lots of stories in the media recently about the pressures faced by hospitals across the UK. During this busy period, the British Red Cross stepped-up some of our existing health and social care services to help. We also pointed out that the health and social care crisis could get worse without urgent action.  

We’ve been listening to the debates and your comments on social media. Here are a few answers to some of the key issues raised.

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A mapping revolution that is saving lives

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How can you improve women’s health in Guinea? Or help people in Haiti who have lost everything after Hurricane Matthew?

You could give to an emergency appeal to fund our life-saving work. But if you’re after something with a bit more direct involvement, then taking part in a mapathon could be the answer.

Missing Maps is a volunteer-led project that sees people from across the world create maps that could help people survive and recover from crisis. All you need is a laptop and an internet connection. More

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Cholera Q&A – The deadly disease explained

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This blog was updated on 15 May 2019

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Yemen is in the grip of an unprecedented cholera outbreak.

It is the largest and fastest-spreading epidemic since the World Health Organization began recording outbreaks in 1949. After the outbreak peaked in 2017, a second wave of cases began in August 2018 and has continued into 2019. 

Since Cyclone Idai tore through southern Mozambique in March, there have been at least 6,596 cases of cholera. More than 90 health centres were either damaged or destroyed and sanitation facilities remain inadequate, making the situation very dangerous.

In this blog, British Red Cross health adviser Greg Rose explains the threat posed by this potentially life-threatening disease.

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Grants, ducks and cyclones: seven lessons from Bangladesh

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A man standing in a doorway holding a duck in each hand

What would you do if cyclones flooded the farmland you depend on every year?

Imagine living in an area that floods nearly every year.

For two to three months, you earn can no money and have to leave your home because it is surrounded by several feet of water.

Your house and farm animals can even get swept out to sea.

Despite working hard and saving between the cyclones, your family gets caught in this cycle year after year.

In 2013, the Red Cross, with our partner the Bangladesh Red Crescent, started supporting people in coastal villages in a new way.

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The power of a gran in Afghanistan

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Three women wearing Afghan Red Crescent pinneys and holding drawings of a mother and child sit on the floor in a row

If you were a granny in Afghanistan, you would be one of the most influential and respected members of your community.

“Afghan grandmothers are valued authority figures,” said Justin Dell, Afghanistan country manager at the British Red Cross.

“Many younger women in rural communities have to do what others tell them to do, particularly their fathers or husbands.

“But everyone will listen to grandmothers and follow their advice.

“This includes men, many of whom are the women’s own husbands, sons or sons-in-law.”

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