Service Innovation Bulletin
Primary Care Trusts Archive
- Clocking on to Men's Health
- Activate Pendle
- Centralised Nebuliser Service
- Community Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme
- Prescribing Support Practice Assistant Scheme
Clocking on to Men’s Health
Sefton PCT
This service is a partnership between the NHS, the Local Authority, the private business sector and local men. It is a health promotion initiative encouraging men to have an increased awareness of health issues.
The initiative also encourages men to access health and leisure services in order to improve lifestyle behaviours, such as diet, physical activity and smoking. In turn this will lead to a reduction in the risk of developing chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer; improve quality of life and assist in reducing health inequalities in life expectancy.
A variety of activities including cancer workshops, health screening, clinical consultations, advice and health promotion campaigns are included in the initiative at a diverse range of workplace sites, leisure centres and barber shops.
This service is in line with Choosing Health target of promoting health in the workplace. The effect of the initiative has been evaluated; over 94% of participants found the initiative to be helpful. Analysis has demonstrated within the target group improved levels of intention to modify diet, to stop smoking, increase physical activity and attend healthcare services.
ACTIVATE Pendle
East Lancashire PCT
ACTIVATE Pendle is a health trainer, community development project, working with local agencies and the people of Pendle to develop and signpost appropriate activities to reduce the lifestyle risks associated with coronary heart disease. Pendle has been included as a spearhead area under Choosing Health because the area has been identified as having a population with a health status within the worst 20% of the country, against five key indicators.
Although this project covers the whole population of Pendle, the project has focused on the central neighbourhood renewal wards. The neighbourhood renewal area (eight wards) contains 44.8% of the Pendle population approximately 38,000 people. A substantial number of households in Pendle contain one or more people with a limiting long-term illness; ethnic minority communities face particular health problems in relation to coronary heart disease and diabetes.
The project raises awareness, increases knowledge and equips clients to make healthier lifestyle choices (including physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation and maintaining a healthy weight). The choice of activities is negotiated between the ‘Living well group’ members and members of ACTIVATE (either core community development workers or health trainers).
Centralised Nebuliser Service
Central Cheshire PCT
The service incorporates the following aspects of care related to the use of nebulised medication for patients with respiratory disease:
- The provision of assessment and supervised trials of nebulised medication to ensure appropriate prescribing, using agreed protocols and procedures. Those patients who show objective and subjective improvement are provided with the necessary compressor and equipment, in addition to, the comprehensive education and support needed to ensure the safe care and use of such medication.
- Access (for all patients who use nebulised medication) to servicing, repair, emergency replacement and equipment changes at the recommended intervals.
- Comprehensive education for healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients using nebulisers.
- Review of nebulised medication for patients already using nebulisers if requested by the GP.
This service is enhanced by the collaborative working between the PCT, GP practices and the Acute Trust.
Community Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme
Cardiothoracic Centre Liverpool NHS Trust & Liverpool PCT
An excellent example of a community based programme of guided exercise and education for sufferers of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), bronchitis and other respiratory conditions. This service is managed by an Acute Trust and three surrounding PCTs working in partnership. A specialised multi-disciplinary team including a physiotherapist, respiratory nurse specialist, exercise physiologist and a technical instructor run the service.
The potential benefits for patients using this service include: an improvement in health-related quality of life, a reduction in the number of hospitalisations and a reduction in anxiety and depression associated with COPD.
The benefits of the programme are expected to extend beyond the immediate period of intervention. The service is an integral part of the primary care management of COPD; providing direct access from GPs and community practitioners.
Prescribing Support Practice Assistant Scheme
Wyre PCT
A nominated receptionist from each of the GP practices within the PCT is given protected time to look at prescribing issues. The nominated receptionist is fully trained to become a Prescribing Support Assistant and is supported by a member of the Medicines Management Team. Following strict guidelines, the Prescribing Support Assistants look at dose rationalisations, brand-to-generics switches and housekeeping issues (e.g. over/under used medication) for all patients. The Prescribing Support Assistants also carry out incentive scheme drug switches according to PCT protocol.
Since the introduction of the scheme in 2002, savings in excess of £500,000 have been realised and are expected to continue annually.