Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Director of Public Health.

The Scrutiny Committee has previously been informed of the Healthy Communities programme and the work being progressing to support individuals’ adopt healthier lifestyles. One of the new developments this is starting to be introduce is Patient Activation Measures. At the Meeting it is hoped to share this work and colleagues from Life Leisure who are piloting this approach will attend to explore and explain the work in more detail.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to receive the attached report and provide comments on the proposals being presented.

Officer contact: Jennifer Connolly, 0161 474 2442, jennifer.connolly@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update to the Scrutiny Committee on the introduction of Patient Activation Measures as part of the Healthy Communities programme, intended to support individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles. The approach was being trialled, and if successful would be rolled out in a number of different services in Stockport Together.

The Patient Activation Measure (PAM) was a validated, commercially licenced tool that had been extensively tested with reviewed findings from a large number of studies. Individuals undertook a self assessment that determined their level of need which in turn determined the type of interventions and support they received. The approach would also complement existing programmes of support, including the PARiS scheme delivered by Life Leisure, and would support Stockport Together aims of empowering individuals to take better care of their own health.

Jennifer Connolly, Public Health Consultant, and Claire Duffy, PARiS Coach, attended the meeting to answer questions from councillors.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The take up and response from users so far had been positive following pilots in Brinnington and Hazel Grove. The information gathered from the surveys of patients had proved very useful and rather than prolong the assessment process as original feared, had allowed the setting of realistic goals.

·         What were the pathways into services? In response it was stated that patients were being referred in where they were in need of health coaching, and that progress was being monitored. The focus currently was on those with long term conditions where improvements in physical activity would improve those conditions, although there was scope to use the PAM for preventative purposes.

·         What were the metrics used to determine effectiveness? There was an evidence base on the effectiveness of PAM, but locally there was specific interest in measuring the impact and change on PAM scores over time.

·         What long term support was there to keep users engaged and motivated? Working through the PARiS scheme meant users sessions were monitored over 6 months, but this often lead to ongoing engagement with organised groups and supervised sessions. Even where there was no improvement in PAM level for a user, an improvement in the score was shown to be beneficial.

·         Where was the ‘fun’? Through the activities and opportunities available to users.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and Jennifer Connolly and Claire Duffy be thanked for their attendance.