NFU Mutual Great Milton Supports Royal Berks Charity’s Award-Winning Single Point of Access Service

The Royal Berks Charity is delighted to announce a generous donation of £7,899 from NFU Mutual’s Great Milton branch, made through the insurer’s national £2.33 million Agency Giving Fund.

This funding will directly support the Single Point of Access (SPoA) service at the Royal Berkshire Hospital — an award-winning team that plays a vital role in ensuring patients receive timely, coordinated care.

Now in its sixth year, NFU Mutual’s Agency Giving Fund helps local frontline charities across the UK. Each of NFU Mutual’s 280 agency and branch offices can nominate a charity to receive funding, ensuring support reaches communities where it’s needed most.

Thanks to this donation, the SPoA team will be able to invest in specialist staff training, create a dedicated quiet space for staff wellbeing, and expand their service beyond the Emergency Department and Oncology, helping even more patients access the right care at the right time.

The Single Point of Access service acts as a central hub for referrals, helping to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. Since its launch, the team has successfully redirected 1,795 patients away from the Emergency Department and prevented 4,397 hospital admissions, easing pressure on services and improving patient outcomes.

“This generous contribution from NFU Mutual Great Milton will enable us to enhance our service and share our model with other hospitals,” said Caraline Pickett, Service Manager. “Our vision is to ensure every patient can receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”

“As an agency, we are thrilled and extremely proud to support the SPoA team with this donation,” added Kirsty Barrett, Agent at NFU Mutual Great Milton. “The SPoA team is at the frontline of care, helping patients access the right support efficiently. We hope this donation helps strengthen their vital work.”

The SPoA team has already been recognised with the Trust’s Innovation of the Year Award and has attracted interest from NHS England and hospitals nationwide for their pioneering approach.

To find out more about the work of the Royal Berks Charity and how donations make a difference to patients and staff, visit www.royalberkscharity.co.uk.