1. Recruitment Process

2. Who should be recruited
Patients with one of the identified health conditions (for example):
Newly referred
At a review of patients who have been diagnosed
Variation of severity of health condition
Patients over the age of 18
Variation in demographic characteristics
Variation in socio-economic characteristics

3. Who recruits? Personal health budget group
Health professional offers a PHB and then recruits
Health professional offers a PHB but someone else recruits to the evaluation

4. Before consent Identified person in each site needs to:
1. Explain the purpose of the study
2. Explain what participation involves for the patient
Completing a questionnaire soon after consent
Completing a questionnaire about 12 months after consent
Extracting data about their use of secondary care services
Sending the care plan record to the evaluation team

5. What needs to be stressed
All information collected will be used for the research only
All information will be made anonymous before reports are written
They can withdraw from the study if they change their mind – they will still receive their health care services as usual
Ask if they have any questions and answer them as best you can

6. PHBE documentation You will be sent PHBE documentation
Documentation includes:
All versions of the invitation letter
All versions of the information sheets
All versions of the consent form
The invitation letter and information sheet could be ed to you

7. Consent Process

8. Informed Consent
If the patient agrees to participate in the evaluation, they will be asked to complete the consent form.
The patient will need to read each statement, tick each box if they agree, and write their name, sign and date the form at the bottom.
The patient can choose not to consent for data to be extracted from the Hospital Episodes Statistics.
The Health Professional or person identified as leading on recruitment may need to talk through and explain each statement.
If patient does not agree to take part, thank them for taking the time to consider the project.

9. Consent Paperwork
Consent forms to be sent back to the University of Kent:
Special delivery which requires a signature
Sent back to the University of Kent via a courier
The questionnaire will be sent to the participant