Slides from the first North East Hampshire and Farnham evaluation symposium on prevention, which took place on the 10 January 2017.

1. Making Connections
Interim Findings

2. PRESENTERS
• Andrew Liles, Wessex AHSN
• Caroline Winchcurch, CEO, Hart Voluntary Action
• Di Cheeseman, Age UK Surrey
• Julie Benson, Team Leader, Making Connections, Age
UK Surrey

3. AGENDA
• What we are evaluating
• The Making Connections model explained
• Referral information
• Patient Reported Outcomes
• Qualitative Evaluation
• Impact on A&E and emergency admissions
• Active Ingredients

4. Making Connections Evaluation
Increase in sense of well-
being reported by clients.
Clients realising desired
goals
Reductions in A&E
attendances, admissions
to hospital, GP
appointments, referrals to
mental health and social
care
Increased use of voluntary
and community based
services.

5. Social Prescribing
“A means of enabling GPs and other frontline
healthcare professionals to refer clients to a link worker
– to provide them with a face to face conversation
during which they can learn about the possibilities and
design their own personalised solutions ie ‘co-produce’
the ‘social prescription’ – so that people with social,
emotional or practical needs are empowered to find
solutions which will improve their health and wellbeing,
often using services provided by the voluntary and
community sector”.
(Social Prescribing Network Conference Report: January 2016

6. Making Connections Delivery
• Using the Age UK Surrey model already in place in Farnham, the
project has been replicated and extended to include anyone
over 18 years of age who would benefit from short term support
to improve their sense of wellbeing living in North East Hants
and Farnham.
• “Guided conversations” in home over a number of visits to
inform a person-centred plan with goals set by the client.
• Client has up to 3 months’ support from a team of co-ordinators
(and volunteers). Target to reach 350 patients.
• Support to link patients in with services run in the community,
especially voluntary groups and with volunteers.
• Wider dissemination of information to raise awareness and
encourage self-help or self-referral.
• Evaluation of outcomes to date by end of March 2017.

7. Referrals
• 48 referrals received in the Farnham project (July 15
to June 16)
• 188 referrals received from 1st July – 6th Jan
• 81 active clients
• 33 clients have completed and achieved their goals
• 23 clients triaged and referred on to appropriate
support
• 19 clients on the waiting list
• Remainder withdrew due to worsening health or
declined service

8. Referral examples
• Nepalese woman in her 50s living in inappropriate housing for
her disability
• Man in his 90s with reduced mobility wants his wife
recognised as his carer and linked to carers’ support
• Young man in his 30s (ex-army) – trouble with holding down
work and socialisation with others
• 26 year old man who is autistic and has mental health issues
who has low self esteem
• 3 women in their 20s with post natal depression
• Woman in her 50s with MS who needs motivation to regain
her independence
• 2 young Central European men who have suffered
trauma and are isolated due to ethnic background

9. Goals
• Volunteering
• Wellbeing
• Independence
• Life skills
• Money matters
• Carers’ Issues
• Practical support

10. Patient Reported Outcomes – Health Confidence
68
56
59
69
63
72
69
71
68
70
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
I know enough about my health (N before = 80 / N after = 35)
I can look after my health (N before = 80 / N after = 35)
I can get the right help if I need it (N before = 80 / N after = 34)
I am involved in decisions about me (N before = 80 / N after = 35)
Health Confidence Score aggregate score (N before = 80 / N after = 34)
HealthConfidence
On referral On follow up

11. Patient Reported Outcomes – Personal wellbeing
42
44
49
37
43
56
52
61
45
54
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
I am satisfied with my life (N before = 80 / N after = 35)
What I do in my life is worthwhile (N before = 80 / N after = 34)
I was happy yesterday (N before = 79 / N after = 35)
I was NOT anxious yesterday (N before = 79 / N after = 35)
Personal Wellbeing Score aggregate score (N before = 78 / N after = 34)
PersonalWellbeing
On referral On follow up

12. Qualitative Evaluation
Interviews with 8 people identified four themes:
1. Strength of the relationship
“We just chatted about everyday things and we thoroughly
enjoyed each other’s company”
“ I keep thinking that it’s a privilege them sharing with me what
their lives have been and are, to allow me to come in and assist
them”
“I’ve loved her coming”
2. Practical assistance
“She comes and takes me out occasionally, which is
wonderful.

13. Qualitative Evaluation
Interviews with 8 people identified four themes:
3. Match between client and service
“ I’m only a youngster at 72 and quite active”
4. Service infrastructure
“(attending the MDT meetings has) raised the profile of the
voluntary sector with the health professionals and social
services”
“They’ve been absolute gold dust to us, they come every week”

14. Impact on A&E and Emergency Admissions
• The Commissioning Support Unit have analysed the
emergency activity records of 206 clients referred to
Making Connections between August 2015 and
November 2016.
• Their analysis compares clients use of A&E and
emergency admissions to hospital for the 120 days
before referral with the 120 days that follow.
• The majority of patients are still within 120 days of
their referral date so haven’t been included yet – so
the findings are very early and come with a
health warning.

15. Impact on A&E and Emergency Admissions
• The very early and caveated findings are showing:
– A reduction in the rate of A&E attendance of 18%
– A reduction in the rate of emergency admission of 19%
• These are encouraging and comparable with other
social prescribing services evaluated by the AHSN.
• We will continue this analysis to firm up the rates of
change and use these to undertake an economic
evaluation of the service.

16. Active ingredients that support this model
• Co-design of project with CCG.
• Time to develop the relationship with the client – guided
conversations
• Practice buy-in and support.
• Being part of the MDT is essential. When it works best,
the Coordinator is an equal player at the table - this takes
time to build.
• Good local knowledge and connections
• The benefits of the Coordinators being hosted by an
organisation that is focused on community development
and partnership.

17. QUESTIONS
Contact
North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG
Making Connections
c/o Hart Voluntary Action
Civic Offices
Harlington Way
Fleet
GU51 4AE
Tel: 01252 815652
E-mail: NEHFCCG.MakingConnections@nhs.net
www.makingconnections.org.uk