Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Voluntary Action LeicesterShire

Future Focus

Social Prescribing

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Social Prescribing

Definition:

Social prescribing enables primary care services to refer patients with social, emotional or practical needs to a range of local services, often provided by the voluntary and community sector

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Benefits of Social PrescribingTo patients:

•Improved health and wellbeing•Supports health and lifestyle change•Improved self esteem and confidence•Offer of accompanied visits•More specialised local knowledge•Speed of referral•Allows time to be heard

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Benefits of Social Prescribing

For Health professionals:•Reduces frequent practice attendance•More appropriate use of GP time•Easy referral•Provides links between VCS and statutory sector•Increased range of practical services•Encourages and supports self care

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Benefits of Social Prescribing

To Health & Social Care Economy:

•Decreased reliance on statutory health services•Decrease in clinical prescribing•Decreased need for acute services

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Primary Care Model

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Primary Care Model

Expected Outcomes:

•After six months Fred has attended the GP less

•Fred is happier

•Fred has a healthier lifestyle

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Secondary Care Model

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Secondary Care Model

Expected Outcomes:

•After six months Sarah has attended A&E less frequently

•Sarah has been supported in engaging with community services

•Sarah is happier and living more healthily

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

National Examples

West Newcastle CCG Area:– Almost half of referrals were to 41-60 year

olds.– Physical health, mental health, lifestyle

change and improving social networks were the top reasons for referral.

– 69% of patients increased their Short Warwick & Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale (SWEMWBS) score after referral

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

National Examples

Bromley by Bow Centre

http://www.bbbc.org.uk/social-prescriber

– 331 referrals in a six month pilot– 75% said that it had resolved or partially

resolved the issue– 70% of patients said that they would not

have accessed the service without social prescribing initiative

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Challenges

• GP Engagement - in Newcastle two of the six GP’s made up 86% of all referrals. Limited engagement from the other GP’s in the pilot

• Capacity for VCS groups: possibly increases in demand

• Evaluation: there remains a need for reliable data on pilot schemes

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

What Needs to Change?

• VCS groups demonstrating the effectiveness of service provision

• Pilots established in City and County to confirm social prescribing works

• Recognition that VCS services aren’t free but they are more cost effective and deliver better outcomes

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Local Developments

• Better Care Together Strategy – Need to move services out of hospitals into communities

• Need to reduce the strain on Primary Care and improve patients wellbeing

• Pilot commencing at Hedges Medical Practice in Eyres Monsell 26 September

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Hedges Medical Practice

• Discussions with GP following Health and Social Care Forum

• Meetings with Practice Manager and Patient Participation Group (PPG) to explain model

• VAL providing training to PPG volunteers

• GP surgery providing space for Social Prescribing Clinic

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Hedges Medical Practice

• VAL developed City Directory of VCS Services

• GP’s providing lists of “frequent attenders” who could benefit from Social Prescribing

• First Social Prescribing Clinic in late August

• Pilot will run until end of March 2015 and evaluation report produced

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Local Developments

• West Leicestershire CCG People Powered Delivery Group – driven by objectives designed by patients, carers and stakeholders – resulting in

• Social prescribing pilot being developed in partnership with a GP practice/PPG – consideration given to areas of deprivation, data review of number of carers over 65 years of age, other pilots, face to face discussions

Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

Questions?

• What are the bennefits of Social Prescribing for VCS providers?

• What service or services does your organisation provide that would benefit the health and wellbeing of carers?