The British Red Cross has set up an improvement plan for its anti-embolism sock support in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area following a critical inspection by the Care and Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC inspected the Support at Home Service in February and gave it an overall grading of requiring improvement.

The anti-embolism sock support provided by Red Cross volunteers is just one aspect of the Red Cross's support at home service operating from the James Paget University Hospital.

It is provided by specially-trained volunteers to people who have been discharged from hospital after surgery to prevent deep vein thrombosis. In the past year this type of support has been provided to around 14 of the 450 people supported in the area.

Mark Bradley, senior service manager for the British Red Cross, said: 'We have taken on board the recommendations of the report and put an improvement plan in place.

'Although the report highlighted areas for improvement, it also contained many positives about the service, including 'volunteers understand the importance of promoting and protecting people's dignity, privacy and independence', and have a 'caring and empathetic approach'.

'The support at home service provided by the British Red Cross in Great Yarmouth has been running for over 20 years and we would like to thank our team of dedicated volunteers for their vital work and reassure our service users they will continue to receive excellent support when they are in crisis.'