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Evidence

Poverty as a Health Issue

by Simon Watts, Public Health Registrar on placement with Greater Manchester Poverty Action

November 2020

Simon Watts writes:

If we don’t tackle poverty as one of the underlying causes of poor health, we will continue to pour money into health treatment services without addressing one of the key root causes of that ill health.

There are positive examples of progress though. Across Greater Manchester there are a range of services which work with residents to help improve their circumstances. One of these services, Focused Care, work with residents to support them with underlying challenges in their lives such as housing issues or benefits; when these issues are resolved residents may then have the space and time to focus on their longer term health

Read the full article here.

Quantitative Analysis of Focused Care

by GM Combined Authority

January 2020

The Research Team at the GM Combined Authority completed some analysis of 430 randomly selected Focused Care data records. Owing to challenges with data, evidence did not give statistical significance but did yield some meaningful findings. The following graphs illustrate the positive impact of Focused Care on employment, smoking and alcohol consumption.

Employment

Smoking 

Alcohol

 

Qualitative Evaluation of Focused Care

by SQW

December 2019

Focused Care is widely considered to have generated tangible, significant outcomes for a range of chaotic/complex patients, particularly in terms of supporting them with mental health issues. Where outcomes were reported but not (fully) achieved or sustained, this was attributed to the chaos/complexity of the patients and the severe challenges of deprivation. The belief in the effectiveness and additionality of the Focused Care model for patients was extensive among patients, GPs and Focused Care workers. Outcomes were reported to be generated through a holistic approach to understanding a patient’s multiple, inter-linked needs and addressing them in a holistic way.

The Focused Care model is reported to have generated value for primary care in terms of reduced inappropriate appointments, the preventative value of improved physical and mental health for patients, and fewer DNAs; although there are also reports of increased demands on primary care through increased appropriate appointments such as for vaccinations and health checks. There are limited reports of the impact of the model at a system level, for example in reducing inappropriate attendances at A&E. However, support from Focused Care is reported to typically help a patient transition from accessing unplanned care to planned care, which should translate to a saving for the system. The quantitative evaluation may be able to provide quantification of these impacts.

Read the full report here.

Unconventional health and care: five organisations delivering care differently

by Ben Collins, King’s Fund

December 2019

Focused Care was featured by the King’s Fund as an organisation delivering care differently. Ben Collins writes:

Laura Neilson, Chief Executive of Hope Citadel, described how one of her Focused Care workers had helped a young woman to escape an abusive relationship with a husband involved in violent crime. A vacancy had come up at a women’s hostel. There was a small window of opportunity to get the woman safely out of the house before her husband came home. The Focused Care worker grabbed a colleague, drove round and quickly helped the woman to pack her bags. In social services, Laura told us, there would need to be risk assessments and approvals. The head of social services would need to be informed. She doubted whether a statutory agency would have been able to respond in time. 

Read the full article here.

Focused Care Data Review

by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale

February 2019

The 2018/2019 data review of Focused Care by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale showed showed significant reductions in A&E, emergency non-elective and outpatient activity following Focused Care intervention.

Click to expand graphs


DR. JOHN PATTERSON
Lead GP for Focused Care


RUTH CHORLEY
Lead Focused Care Worker

FOCUSED CARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH...


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