Making the most of the personalised care workforce: the case for group care

In its 2018 health survey, NHS England found that 43% of people aged over 16 live with at least one long-term condition (1). 14.2 million live with two or more (2). Enhancing their outcomes is a top priority, and whilst they account for 50% of all appointments in primary care (3), most of the time people are managing their long-term health conditions alone or supported by their loved ones.

The GP Forward View (4) in 2016 signalled the introduction of new roles in primary care to support this community, including social prescribers and health and wellbeing coaches. Their main focus is to improve outcomes by reducing loneliness, building social connection, and supporting those living with chronic conditions to live fulfilling, healthy lives.

Social isolation and loneliness are different and related.

• Social isolation is the objective physical separation from other people; having few people to interact with regularly. It does not always follow that living alone leads to social isolation. People can live alone without feeling lonely or socially isolated.
• Loneliness is the subjective feeling of distress from being alone or separated, regardless of social contact. People can feel lonely even when they are living with or are amongst other people.

According to researchers (5), the health risks associated with prolonged social isolation and loneliness are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. They can shorten life span by as many as 15 years, and lead to people taking too little exercise and experiencing poor quality sleep. Social isolation or loneliness also increase a person’s risk of stroke (32%) and heart disease (29%), and dementia (50%), and lead to an increase premature death.

With loneliness and social isolation such powerful determinants of long term health, it makes sense for our personalised practitioners, whose role it is to address these issues, to explore the benefits of delivering therapeutic interventions as group sessions. After all, meeting others in the same situation will immediately build empathy and social connection.

NHS England first recommended delivering clinical care in groups in the GP Forward View (4). One of several new consultation types, group clinics were a recommended high impact action.

Now, some seven years later, social prescribers and health and wellbeing coaches are well-established. Whilst working with groups is listed in their competency framework, most still default to one-to-one appointments and reviews. Why is that?

Given their primary focus on reducing social isolation and loneliness, why not follow the trend and make group clinics and appointments the new normal?

Hosted by The Personalised Care Institute, the feasibility and impact of the group approach to personalised care is to be explored at a forthcoming webinar on: Tuesday 12 December 13.00 – 14.00

At the webinar, you will hear direct from personalised care practitioners who have made the switch and understand more about the evidence base that supports this way of working.

Sign up for the webinar today, and come and join the debate

https://rcgp.my.site.com/s/lt-event?id=a1USg0000001C7BMAU&site=a0d1i00000aKQbhAAG

References

1. NHS England. Health Survey for England 2018. NHS England, 2019. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-for-england/2018

2. Stafford M, Steveton A, Thorlby R, Fisher R, Turton C, Deeney S. Briefing: Understanding the healthcare needs of people with multiple conditions. Health Foundation, 2018. Available at: https://www.health.org.uk/publications/understanding-the-health-care-needs-of-people-with-multiple-health-conditions

3. Kings Fund. Long-term conditions and multi-morbidity. Kings Fund, 2012.

4. NHS England. General Practice Forward View. NHS England, 2016. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/gpfv.pdf

5. Cacioppo JT and Cacioppo S. The growing problem of loneliness. Lancet. 2018; 391(10119): 426.

6. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. The National Academies Press, 2020.Available at: https://doi.org/10.17226/25663.