Project overview
At least 30% of all adults living with physical LTCs also have mental health problems, which equates to approximately 4.6 million people. People in deprived areas are a greater risk of having multiple physical and mental health LTCs (P+MH LTCs) and to develop them at an earlier age. Care for those living with P+MH LTCs increases NHS costs between 45-75%.
Living with P+MH LTCs involve psychosocial, environmental, economic and spiritual needs, which require support from health and social care services including assistance with mobility, housing or financial support, alongside disease management. Approximately 20% of patient consultations with healthcare professionals are for primarily social problems.
There have been several plans for the integration of health and social care in the NHS, such as the ‘NHS Long Term Plan’ (2019), which emphasises the importance of health and social care integration, through social prescribing link workers (SPLWs) to meet the complex needs of people living with LTCs.
Despite being a priority for the NHS, there is a lack of standardization in approaches to SPLW implementation, with potential pathway gaps and unclear guidance for PCNs about how to integrate this workforce to best meet the needs of people living with P+MH LTCs.
The aim of this study is to determine the enablers and barriers to the successful implementation of the SPLW programme in primary care for patients living with P+MH LTCs.
Living with P+MH LTCs involve psychosocial, environmental, economic and spiritual needs, which require support from health and social care services including assistance with mobility, housing or financial support, alongside disease management. Approximately 20% of patient consultations with healthcare professionals are for primarily social problems.
There have been several plans for the integration of health and social care in the NHS, such as the ‘NHS Long Term Plan’ (2019), which emphasises the importance of health and social care integration, through social prescribing link workers (SPLWs) to meet the complex needs of people living with LTCs.
Despite being a priority for the NHS, there is a lack of standardization in approaches to SPLW implementation, with potential pathway gaps and unclear guidance for PCNs about how to integrate this workforce to best meet the needs of people living with P+MH LTCs.
The aim of this study is to determine the enablers and barriers to the successful implementation of the SPLW programme in primary care for patients living with P+MH LTCs.
