Anne WelshHead of ClinicAction Heart, DudleyBACR Annual Conference 7th October 2010

• NHS Heart Improvement National Project– Elderly– Female– Black & minority

ethnic– Deprivation– Employment– Travel/Geography– Identify barriers

Health Inequalities – Local

Health Inequalities – Local

• Patient and staff discussions/consultation (Patient Involvement)

• Learning Difficulties• Sensory/Physical Impairment• ‘Shy’/lacking confidence• Language Barriers

• Hard to Reach/Hard to Keep

Action Heart Phase III programme

• 3 ‘one to one’ sessions

• ‘Hard to Keep’ time?

• Limited resources

“Former patients are trained to provide continued seamless support and surveillance for those individuals requiring further assistance in settling into

Buddy System

the Action Heart Phase III programme”

Buddy System

Requirements• Ex Action Heart cardiac patient• Desire to help other cardiac patients• Empathetic approach/listening ear• Physical ability to demonstrate use of

equipment/warm up etc.• Two hour commitment per week

Training (25 hours)–Listening Skills Course–Use of equipment, demonstration

methods–Theory/Principles of exercise,

understanding exercise programmes–Basic understanding of cardiac

conditions/signs and symptoms

Buddy System

• Further training

– Attendance at Action Heart Education Programme

– Cardiac misconceptions

– Manual handling

– Optional: basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Further shadowing in clinic by staff until proficient and confident

Buddy System

What the role is not!

Setting boundaries

• A replacement for staff• A counselling opportunity• Medical consultation

Buddy System

Eight volunteers

(choice of day/time of attendance)• 6 men 2 women

2 retired nurses,

2 retired teachers,

1 retired local government officer,

1 schools inspector,

1 retired school caretaker,

1 bus driver

Buddy System

Mrs P, severe anxiety, lacking in confidence, reclusive since heart condition

Mr R, partially sighted, never accessed a gym

Mrs B, speaks little English, unable to read or write

Mr K, understanding/memory/retention issues following stroke, left sided weakness

Buddy System

• Patient Survey

“The staff are fantastic but the buddies have more time to help me. I would not have continued if the buddies had not been there to support me.”

“ the buddies are so helpful, kind, wonderful and provide excellent advice”

Buddy System

• Buddies have flourished

–expert listeners, –encouragers, – friends, – information givers, – thriving role models –excellent staff/patient interface

Buddy System

What the Buddies say

“I enjoy all aspects of the role…

meeting,

supporting, getting to know

interesting people. Seeing patients

improve is all very satisfying”

Completed 18 months 155 ‘needy’ patients supported 27 hours/week of Buddy cover Positive satisfaction survey Reduced early drop out rate? Enhanced patient/staff links Ready to recruit/train new Buddies

Outcomes

• Innovative and effective intervention• Cost effective• Enhances patient/staff interface• Captures patient expertise• Increased referrals• A Win-Win situation!• Is this a model for using patient

experience in the NHS?

Summary

• Thanks

to our Buddies

to our Patient Involvement groups

to the BACR

…………………..and to you for listening

• Any questions