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Report highlights inconsistent personalised care delivery; Using AI to reduce demand on A&E; Long COVID comments on social media

Your weekly round up of the latest news, studies and views for professionals working in health information (18 December 2024).

Report highlights inconsistent personalised care delivery

The Personalised Care Institute (PCI) has launched a new learning and advice hub after research revealed inconsistent delivery of personalised care within the health system.  A new Dawn for the NHS: a Manifesto for Putting Personalised Care at the Centre says there are signs personalised care is being deprioritised at a time when it is needed most. Key findings from the research include:

  • Almost 2 in 10 people experience none of the 10 key elements of personalised care.
  • More than 4 in 10 people have received health advice that is not suitable for their individual needs in the last two years.
  • This rose to more than 6 in 10 for those with multiple health conditions.

A lack of personalised care led to: 

  • Worsening conditions for a third of people who said the advice they received was unsuitable.
  • A quarter of people stopping following the advice or treatment early.
  • 3 in 10 people requiring additional GP visits, with a 2 in 10 requiring a visit to A&E.

To help tackle the problem, the PCI has launched a free education and learning hub. Transforming Health through Personalised Care: Strategies for ICBs, Trusts and PCNs aims to help NHS organisations use personalised care training initiatives to tackle regional priorities, improve health outcomes and enhance workforce development. 

Read the full report via the Personalised Care Institute website here.

Access the learning hub here.

NHS uses AI to reduce demand on A&E services

The NHS is using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and support patients at risk of becoming frequent users of emergency services. NHS teams are using data-powered initiatives to identify the most regular attendees and reach out before they arrive at A&E. The intervention aims to get people the support they need earlier, while also reducing demand on pressured A&Es. High Intensity Use (HIU) services have been rolled out to support more than 125 emergency departments across England so far, providing patients with one-to-one coaching support in their own homes to tackle the root cause of why they are visiting A&E. 

Read more about the AI patient attendance initiative on the NHS England website here.

Study: Investigating people's perceptions around Long COVID 

A study has captured people’s sentiments and perceptions of Long COVID through analysis of Twitter (now known as X) data. Analysing English language Tweets from 2021 in Canada, the United States, and Europe, researchers noted significant concern across all regions about the duration and suffering associated with the health condition. The topic of persistent symptoms was highly prevalent, reflecting ongoing challenges faced by individuals with Long COVID. There were also calls for more research and better treatments. The authors said the findings highlight the importance of tracking public discourse on Long COVID to inform public health strategies, address misinformation and provide support to affected individuals. 

Read more about the study and the findings via the JMIR website here.

Report calls for a social prescribing fund for health and wellbeing support

A report makes the case for a new fund that would support community activities, groups and services that benefit people’s health and wellbeing. The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) report, Envisaging a Social Prescribing Fund, says the proposed England-wide fund of £1 billion over 10 years would bring together contributions from the public, philanthropic and private sectors. The allocation of funds would be based on local health needs and could include support for evidence-based community projects for people who are struggling with their mental health, music-based programmes for people living with dementia or exercise sessions to help prevent diabetes.

Find out more about the report and the proposed fund on the NASP website here.

Study: Involving parents of children with life-limiting conditions in research

A new study has reviewed the evidence on involving parents of children with life-limiting conditions and bereaved parents in research, service planning and advocacy. The study was conducted in collaboration with 13 parents of children with life-limiting conditions and bereaved parents, and seven palliative care professionals. Authors concluded organisations working with this group should consider offering inclusive approaches to improve diversity, level power imbalances, and ensure flexibility of approach, appropriate communication and impact.

Find out more about the study and the findings via the Wiley website here.

Campaign highlights the importance of children's brain development

A campaign which aims to educate parents about the importance of brain development in the first five years of a child’s life is set to be relaunched. The Department for Education (DfE), in partnership with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is re-launching its Start for Life: Little Moments Together campaign in January. The campaign website will include simple ideas on how to build little moments which can have a big impact into each day. It includes tips and activities for parents to do with children at different ages. It also signposts parents to the relevant in-person support available in their local communities. Resources to support the launch are available now.

View campaign resources via the DHSC website here.

Event: Sharing experiences of shifting care from hospital to home 

A free event will explore what it will take to successfully move care "from hospital to home" and what we can learn from the experience of other countries. Nuffield Trust will host the policy event, chaired by Isabel Hardman, assistant editor at The Spectator. It will be held on 15 January from 9am-1pm at One Great George Street, Westminster. Spaces are limited.

Find out more and register for the free event on the Nuffield Trust website here.