COVID-19 has thrown into sharp relief the impact of health inequalities and the lasting impact on people’s lives and life chances. Focusing on prevention is critical if we are to tackle health inequalities.

In the second report in our Providers deliver series, Providers deliver: new roles in prevention, we showcase eight examples of the increasingly important role that trusts from  across the NHS are playing in prevention.

Focusing on prevention is critical if we are to tackle health inequalities.

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The case studies include a service in Lincolnshire that is helping severely disabled children at risk of respiratory-related hospital admissions stay at and be cared for at home. Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust has a multi-disciplinary team who work with the children’s family and schools to prevent, and quickly respond to, flare ups and has prevented 64 hospital admissions in the first year.

North East Ambulance Trust, working with the CCG and acute trust, has set up a dedicated team of paramedics and occupational therapists who visit older people who have fallen and assess their home and physical needs at the time of the fall. This helps to avoid hospital admissions and prevent future falls.

The report also includes a project to provide care for the homeless community. Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, identified a need to design healthcare services around people and bring the care to them. Drug and alcohol support, sexual health and foot care is provided from a popular soup kitchen. 

Commenting on the report, deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said:

“These case studies are just a small example of how NHS trusts are collaborating with partners and their communities to improve people’s health by preventing ill health, avoiding inpatient admissions and keeping people as well as possible.

These case studies are just a small example of how NHS trusts are collaborating with partners and their communities to improve people’s health by preventing ill health.

Saffron Cordery    Deputy Chief Executive

“Trusts are often the largest organisation in their local area and are looked at as ‘anchor institutions’. In addition to providing healthcare, they have increasingly been using their position to look beyond their own walls and influence a whole range of factors to improve health outcomes.

“The pandemic has only served to reinforce the vital role that trusts play in all local communities and how important it is for them to be embedded and work in partnership with other public, voluntary and private sector. This is how they are playing their part in delivering the prevention agenda.”