Health and care leaders worked with the voluntary and community sector by investing £20,000 to support the sector to build its information sharing capability to achieve compliance and facilitate further information sharing and social prescribing. This example of how local areas are working to implement overall system change forms part of our care and health improvement digital and information resource.
The challenge
GPs were not confident in sharing information with the voluntary and community sector (VCS) meaning use of social prescribing was limited and citizens were not able to access the full range of local support and help on offer from Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) provision.
The solution
The local VCS needed to demonstrate to GPs that it was compliant with the NHS framework for information governance. Health and care leaders resolved this by working with the VCS and investing £20,000 to support the sector to build its information sharing capability to achieve compliance and facilitate further information sharing and social prescribing.
The impact
Improved use of social prescribing by GPs is supporting the development of a locally vibrant and accessible health and care market which provides greater choice and access by citizens to services. It also seeks to address people’s health and care needs holistically.
How is your approach being sustained
Improved information sharing has also enabled Sheffield Hallam University to evaluate the impact of social prescribing by GPs and is starting to build an evidence base to demonstrate the success of this work.
Lessons learned
Resolving this challenge required health and care leaders to step away from the traditional commissioner and provider relationship. Looking at the bigger picture and recognising both the challenges and benefits of improved information sharing between primary care and the VCS supported the case for investment.
