Launch of new leaflet targeted at health professionals
Health professionals are being urged to use a new leaflet which will lead to better integration of sheltered housing support with health care.
Published by ERoSH and Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP), the information booklet encourages hospital and primary care staff to assess their answers to 16 questions that address patient record forms, assessments, hospital discharge, health promotion and information.
Good practice examples of joint working between primary care trusts, councils and Supporting People teams in Rotherham and Westminster are included in the new leaflet, highlighting the development of programmes on falls prevention, alcohol awareness, dementia training and malnutrition screening.
Older People Dietician, Alia Shakouri, at Westminster PCT, said, "Finding solutions that meet individual needs in the community is more complex than in clinical settings. We have bridged the gap between social services and clinical care in Westminster in order to identify those at risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition screening has since been incorporated into systematic resident reviews and we can now ensure they have access to expert care where needed and tailor services to meet the underlying causes of malnutrition."
Helen Hawley, Health Promotion Specialist at Rotherham PCT, said, "In Rotherham, by working with Supporting People, we have established close partnerships with sheltered housing schemes. This has given us the opportunity to work closely together to promote not only the health and well being of residents but also that of older people living in the local communities."
The leaflet also encourages health staff to value the contribution of sheltered housing staff and to capitalise on the often under utilised potential of the communal lounges. In addition, quotes are included from the 'Our health, our care, our say' white paper and the National Service Framework, referring to sheltered housing schemes as part of the infrastructure for the delivery of health living services.
ERoSH Director of Policy, Imogen Parry, said, "I am delighted that CSIP and ERoSH have worked together to produce this new leaflet. It will be of no value, however, whatsoever if it sits in drawers or filing cabinets. It is intended to be used by housing professionals to improve joint working with their health colleagues and to be used by health professionals to assess their progress in partnership working. I encourage everyone to obtain copies of the leaflet and to ensure that they are used to deliver these outcomes."
Contact ERoSH to obtain free copies. Alternatively, the leaflet can be downloaded from our Publications page on this website.
