Introduction
Integrating Primary Care professionals within the voluntary and community sector to support the improvement of long term health conditions through physical activity.
What happened?
Across the 3 Primary Care Networks in Hartlepool there are a network of social prescribers/link workers. Following a mapping exercise of meeting with each PCN's network of professionals it was evident that there was a need and desire to improve the connection of health sector and the VCS to enable better pathways for health professionals to access physical activity opportunities to support their patients health issues. We created the Social Prescriber Health & Well-Being Network in which we aim to understand the challenges the health sector face in improving people's quality of life through physical activity provision in Hartlepool and strengthen the links between the health sector and the voluntary and community sector to improve the opportunities and pathways for patients to access to support improving their physical and mental health in a positive partnership approach. To date 2 network meetings have taken place with 15 attendee's the first time and 20 attendee's the second time. The network connected health sector professionals to physical activity opportunities and also provided great discussion points, in particular around safeguarding concerns. As primary care are integrating with the VCS more as they recognise the value that they can play, it has raised a number of issues around the safeguarding standards of the sector, especially when they are referring patients. This has led to a safeguarding sub group being set up which aims to put in place MSD for the VCS specific to health sector referrals. Through this piece of work it has become evident that organisations with the VCS need support to develop their skills, knowledge and standards when supporting people with long term health conditions and confidence has left many providers saying that they are unable to take referrals due to lack of knowledge of health issues. This has identified a need for both sectors to work together to share knowledge, resources and expertise and work in a more collaborative way to improve pathways for patients into physical activity provision from healthcare.
Who was involved?
TVS and PFC drove the organistion of the network which was attended by VCS organisations, social prescribers, link workers, community Navigation Officers, Waiting Well Teams and LA reps.
When?
The network will be held bi monthly and there is a keen appetite for this to continue and expand professional involvement.
How?
People were initially interested following individual conversations with a wide range of health professionals who all identified the same issues such as lack of knowledge of physical activity provision, lack of referral routes for patients, lack of confidence in high quality provision, lack of time in being able to attend sessions with patients, lack of understanding of what physical activity recommendations they should provide.
So?
The purpose of the network is to bring together the two sectors and build a better understanding of how they can work in partnership to support peoples long term health conditions. As the pressures continue to grow on primary care, we are dealing with ageing population and the decline in the populations health it is more important than ever that community providers are more integrated within primary care support.
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