Working in Partnership Programme Helping people to take better care of themselves, their families, friends and neighbours… Self Care for People Project Mark Overton Head of Health Inequalities South Tyneside PCT

Working in Partnership Programme What’s it all about? What is self care? Why self care is important Why South Tyneside wanted to get involved in the Self Care for People Initiative How are we delivering this in South Tyneside The benefits of the programme

Working in Partnership Programme Definition of Self Care Most people do ‘self care’ as part of daily living. It can be described as a lifelong behaviour. It is the action individuals take for themselves to look after their own health. Self care covers actions to stay as healthy as possible and reduce the risk of developing new conditions as well as skills and tools to control existing symptoms (sometimes called self management).

Working in Partnership Programme The Self Care Continuum Pure self-care Individual responsibility Daily choices Lifestyle Self-managed ailments Minor ailments Assisted management Chronic conditions Shared care Acute conditions Compulsory Psychiatric care Major trauma Pure medical care ‘abdicated responsibility’ Self Care for People and Self Care for Healthcare Professional Projects

Working in Partnership Programme p r o f e s s i o n a l c a r e high % of professional care equally shared care high % of self care complex cases with co-morbidities high risk cases 70-80% of the people with long term conditions s e l f c a r e Shared Care

Working in Partnership Programme Evidence of benefits of self care Examples of beneficial effects of self care interventions: health and other outcomes increase in life expectancy better symptom management reduction in pain, anxiety and depression levels improvement in quality of life with greater independence use of care services visits to GPs can reduce by over 40% (Fries 1998) hospital admissions reduced by 50% (Montgomery 1994) outpatient visits reduced by 17% (Lorig 1985) hospital LOS reduced (Kennedy 1990) medication intake, e.g. steroids, reduced (Charlton 1990) A&E visits reduce significantly (Choy et al 1999)

Working in Partnership Programme Self care skills Problem solving Decision making Resource use Working with health professionals Taking action

Working in Partnership Programme Self Care In South Tyneside Existing close involvement working with local people Existing networks HealthNet Healthy Living Centres Healthworks Choosing Health Team delivering change at local level with help of local networks

Working in Partnership Programme Health Improvement Initiatives Volunteer Projects HealthNet Self Care Support Network Older Persons Festival Health Works Health Information Shop Linked Campaigns Health Promotion Action Green gyms/Walking Initiatives/Heart Start Community Micro Networks BME Apna Ghar Stride

Working in Partnership Programme Lay Volunteers Linked to the Existing Network Health Improvement Initiatives Volunteer Health/Self Care Support Groups MHIST/WHIST Healthy Living Network Schemes Sight Service Age Concern Ageing Well ILM Volunteers Skills Development Young Offenders Age Concern 5 a Day Volunteers Green Gyms Walking Works Wonders Health Start Volunteers Targeting areas of deprivation BME Communities Expert Patients Programmes Community Capacity Building Voluntary Projects HealthNet Existing Self Care Network Older People Health Works Info Shop Linked Campaigns (Obesity/ Alcohol) Health Promotion Community Micro Networks Apna Ghar PALS Stride

Working in Partnership Programme Aims of Scheme In South Tyneside To fully establish the self care network To establish effective working across sectors Provide support & training to local people, volunteers and linked staff Develop a cross sector self care strategy Develop links with NHS Direct online and other information schemes

Working in Partnership Programme How are we delivering this in South Tyneside? Delivery of Self Care Skills Course Two target groups Parents of young children In community settings Early years excellence centres Sure Start Men in the workplace Work places Rohm & Haas; Cigarette Components; Hashimoto; Groundwork Working with NHS Direct to develop Self Care Resource Directory Self care network – strengthen existing HealthNet group

Working in Partnership Programme Who is involved? Local Delivery Team Carol Robertson; Local Self Care Coordinator; Healthworks Justine Wilkinson; Health Development Officer, South Tyneside Council Nick Roberts; Health & Fitness Coordinator; STRIDE Malcolm Moralee; Primary Prevention Manager; PCT Cascade to Local Volunteer Trainers Building Capacity –Sure Start, Health Visitors, Community Voluntary sector

Working in Partnership Programme What is in the Training Package Six elements to training: Self care, Self Empowerment and health beliefs Motivational and behaviour change Self esteem and improving confidence Psychological aspects of well being (stress, anxiety and relaxation) Physical Aspects of wellbeing (Healthy Eating and Physical activity) Mapping Self Care Locally

Working in Partnership Programme How have local people found the Self Care Skills Training? Confidence in solving problems “never really thought of myself as a person before – I was just a mam – I feel I can do anything now” Independence in making decisions Seven women in have signed up for women only plastering class – “we want to shock our partners” Knowing where to go to get more information Always very surprised where they can go to get information (do not know about self care support, libraries, pharmacists) Taking action One mum fed her child well but existed on chocolate biscuits, crisps and coffee (following her attendance on the course she now cooked a meal every night )

Working in Partnership Programme Why self care is important in South Tyneside Living longer - poor life expectancy in South Tyneside Better symptom management – double national rate of Incapacity Benefit – impact on appropriate GP attendance Reduction in pain, anxiety, stress and depression – the emerging “well being” Agenda Improved quality of life with greater independence