Partnership work in the North East: provision of Partnership work in the North East: provision of health and social care information to the publichealth and social care information to the publicDr Graham Walton, Janet Harrison and Suzanne Dr Graham Walton, Janet Harrison and Suzanne Lockyer, Loughborough UniversityLockyer, Loughborough University

Seminar on ‘Building partnerships for Seminar on ‘Building partnerships for the future: health and public libraries the future: health and public libraries working together’ : Queens' Medical working together’ : Queens' Medical Centre, 16Centre, 16thth June 2006 June 2006

BackgroundBackground

• Funded by MLA North East (Formerly North East Funded by MLA North East (Formerly North East Museums Library and Archives Council (NEMLAC))Museums Library and Archives Council (NEMLAC))

• Took place in 2005 Took place in 2005 • Focussed on public libraries, primary care trusts and Focussed on public libraries, primary care trusts and

social care departmentssocial care departments• Purpose to collect good examples of health and social Purpose to collect good examples of health and social

information provision information provision • Produce model for co-ordinated and sustainable Produce model for co-ordinated and sustainable

provisionprovision

Strategic review: 1: politics and fundingStrategic review: 1: politics and funding

• Range of policies from DoH, MLA, DCMS produced Range of policies from DoH, MLA, DCMS produced environment where public will have increased access to environment where public will have increased access to health and social care informationhealth and social care information

• Policy for all local government services to be online by Policy for all local government services to be online by 2005 impacts on public libraries and social services 2005 impacts on public libraries and social services providers of informationproviders of information

• Some funding has been made available specifically for Some funding has been made available specifically for joint health and social care information projectsjoint health and social care information projects

Strategic review: 2: public perceptionStrategic review: 2: public perception

• Traditional vs. unconventional Traditional vs. unconventional • Access: public vs. professionalsAccess: public vs. professionals• Urban vs. rural/ affluent vs. poorUrban vs. rural/ affluent vs. poor• Digital divide (information/ information technology Digital divide (information/ information technology

literacy)literacy)• QualityQuality

Strategic review: 3: providersStrategic review: 3: providers

• Collaboration (medical libraries + other, public libraries Collaboration (medical libraries + other, public libraries + others, local community + others, NHS + others, + others, local community + others, NHS + others, academic institutions + others)academic institutions + others)

• Role of the voluntary sectorRole of the voluntary sector

• Changing role of public librariesChanging role of public libraries

Strategic review: 4: deliveryStrategic review: 4: delivery

• Technology (digital interactive TV, kiosks, Internet)Technology (digital interactive TV, kiosks, Internet)

• Methods of delivery (libraries, Helplines, Community Methods of delivery (libraries, Helplines, Community centres/ drop in centres, multi-purpose customer service centres/ drop in centres, multi-purpose customer service centrescentres

MethodologyMethodology

• QuestionnairesQuestionnaires

• Focus groupFocus group

• InterviewsInterviews

Results: summaries from responses on key Results: summaries from responses on key issuesissues

• Current and changing roles: opportunities and barriersCurrent and changing roles: opportunities and barriers• Targeting health and social care informationTargeting health and social care information• TrainingTraining• Evaluating servicesEvaluating services• CollaborationCollaboration

Results: examples of best practiceResults: examples of best practice

• Electronic accessElectronic access• Hitting the right targetsHitting the right targets• Personal touchPersonal touch• Maximising professional inputMaximising professional input• Didn’t we do well?Didn’t we do well?

Conclusions: BarriersConclusions: Barriers

• Various barriers exist:Various barriers exist: – IPs lack awareness of available resources both within IPs lack awareness of available resources both within

and between organisationsand between organisations

– Duplication of effort and information overload by IPsDuplication of effort and information overload by IPs

– Need to raise public awareness of where to go for Need to raise public awareness of where to go for informationinformation

– Current lack of training in people skills and dealing Current lack of training in people skills and dealing with queries outside professionwith queries outside profession

Conclusions: StrengthsConclusions: Strengths

• Strengths of partnership workingStrengths of partnership working– Maximise resourcesMaximise resources

• Co-ordinated provision of informationCo-ordinated provision of information• Use of specific staff skillsUse of specific staff skills

– Training provision between sectorsTraining provision between sectors• Dealing with queries outside professionDealing with queries outside profession

Recommendations Recommendations (to move to a more coherent (to move to a more coherent model where good practice is spread across model where good practice is spread across Region)Region)

• Develop the evidenceDevelop the evidence• Provide appropriate direction and linkage for information Provide appropriate direction and linkage for information

professionalsprofessionals• Proactive project disseminationProactive project dissemination• Resource allocationResource allocation• Take ownership and responsibility for the Take ownership and responsibility for the

recommendationsrecommendations