How social prescribing projects are using digital to identify gaps and monitor and measure impact during Covid-19 | Part 3

THIS IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF BLOGS FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE INSPIRATIONAL WAYS THAT COMMUNITIES ARE USING DIGITAL TO HELP THEM RESPOND TO COVID-19 ACROSS THE UK AND IRELAND.

In last week’s blog we looked at how Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust’s Life Rooms and OLT Healthy Living Centre quickly adapted their services in response to Covid-19 by using digital and non-face-to-face interaction alternatives, to continue providing much needed support during this critical time.

SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES MOBILISED, CONNECTED AND SUPPORTED

This week, we are highlighting the work being done by two of our customers, with a focus on how they’ve adapted their services in the face of Covid-19, and how using digital enhanced their ability to do this remotely.

We’re seeing many areas using digital for:

•  Communication between health and social care teams and patients
•  Recruitment of volunteers
•  Creation of support plans
•  Monitoring the wellbeing of a cohort of people
•  Measuring the overall impact of community planning and the effectiveness of coordinated delivery
•  Mapping all the different types of support that’s available

•  Finding out what people want and what is working well
•  Recording who has had which kind of support and prioritising those who need it
•  Sharing of online resources such as exercise videos, singing groups and meditation
•  Online debt advice
•  Understanding where the gaps are in both delivery and capacity of teams

BARNET FEDERATED GPS CIC – ALLOWING LINK WORKERS & GPS TO PRIORITISE THEIR WORKLOAD

In response to the Covid-19 public health emergency, Barnet Federated GPs CIC quickly adapted their services to assist practices in contacting vulnerable patients and ensuring they are supported socially. The GP Federation is making sure practices have adequate support regarding food supplies, medication supplies, pets and home repairs. They are also referring people to community and voluntary organisations who still have services running through COVID-19.

The benefit of digital

Using Elemental’s COVID-19 cohort tagging feature has helped Barnet Federated GPs to identify a list of socially vulnerable patients across Barnet. This has allowed their social prescribing Link Workers to prioritise and focus their workload.

The GP Federation are also working with Barnet Council to develop a temporary COVID-19 directory of services. With access to Elemental given to key people within the local authority, meaning cross-sectoral updates to services and access to Covid-19 community support reports.

Over the past few weeks, Elemental’s COVID-19 ‘reason for referral’ has allowed Barnet’s social prescribing Link Workers to prioritise their patients so they can identify which patients need immediate and urgent care. GPs can also quickly refer patients that need urgent and persistent social care.

“Having a digital platform has allowed Barnet to keep up-to-date in a fluid and emergency situation by working with the local authority to ensure there is a central directory of service that is updated consistently and disseminated throughout Barnet, but also allowing GPs a place to refer patients that need urgent and continuous social care.” Kieran Patel, Social Prescribing Administrator

WARM WALES: HEALTHY HOMES HEALTHY PEOPLE (NORTH WALES)

The Warm Wales North Wales Team had to adapt quickly and create alternative ways to deliver their service in response to Covid 19. 

The project takes a person-based approach to address needs, with the aim being to improve health and well-being by creating a home which is safe, sound, warm and secure for all.

The team knew it was hugely important to provide a level of service that still ensured they were giving support and advice to those in need, so they began providing a telephone service for:

•  People who need to talk to someone
•  People who require advice and support on making sure that their home stays warm, and help if they feel they cannot afford home heating
•  Those in need of support if they are worried about paying rent, mortgage or are worried about income due to taking time off work.

Along with sign posting to those who can assist with getting shopping or picking up prescriptions.

HHHP (Healthy Homes Healthy People) are now able to continue meeting key objectives of their project remotely over the phone, with referrals still being made to partner organisations who are  continuing to operate.

What’s amazing is that HHHP only began using Elemental’s digital social prescribing platform this week, but are already seeing benefits. Having access to Elemental will now enable them to monitor the impact they are making, and also identify any gaps, as well as allowing them to show what difference the interventions are making and identify more quickly those that may need contacted.

With 45 calls made to residents since the beginning of April, HHHP are already seeing the benefits of their service in the feedback they are receiving from residents. One woman who had been very stressed about future shopping was very tearful and appreciative following help from HHHP, saying that the team made her feel so much better. The team have also received 70 referrals to date for support linked to Covid-19

“We are going through difficult times and we are here to help and to provide advice and support to those who need a helping hand. We know that this is a worrying time but my friendly and knowledgeable team will do what they can to help make things a little easier. I have known about Elemental for a while now and we are very excited to now be using it and it’s all as a result of the partnership working that we have with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The fact that we can already see the benefits of using the digital platform is amazing – we are so excited to see the impact results.” – Joanna Seymour Project manager, Warm Wales

Next week we will focus on more areas and share the learning around how digital is helping make a difference to those designing, delivering and measuring the effectiveness of community plans for COVID. If you would like to share how you are using digital then please get in touch.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Need a digital partner to enhance the impact of your social prescribing programmes, or to help you to co-design, deliver and scale your COVID19 plans?

Drop us a line or pop your details in the form below.