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Opportunities for Advice and Health Sectors to Add Value. Nick Bussey – Area Director Citizens Advice. Changing Landscape. New National Government Policies Spending Review – likely impact on all sectors Abolition of Regional Government - localism Abolition of PCT’s - GP purchasing
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Opportunities for Advice and Health Sectors to Add Value Nick Bussey – Area Director Citizens Advice
Changing Landscape • New National Government Policies • Spending Review – likely impact on all sectors • Abolition of Regional Government - localism • Abolition of PCT’s - GP purchasing • Big Society – what does this mean? • LA spending cuts and changing areas of benefit
Changing Face of Advice • CAB as a gateway to community advice & information • Advice Line – national access • Locally functioning gateway to range of services • Greater emphasis on partnership • New case recording / appt system allowing seamless referral and joined up service • Improved access – faster throughput of clients • More outreach – meeting client needs where they are • Increasing demand – decreasing funding – more for less
CAB and Health Positives • Long record of health / advice partnership at a local level • Innovative new services developed • Evidenced impact on client / patient welfare Negatives x Funding usually short term projects x No national funding – always locally developed x Lessons not learnt – everyone wants to reinvent wheels x Funding often linked to people / not organisational or long term strategic
Some CAB Health Projects • Derbyshire PCT have CAB advised in GP surgeries. For every £1 they invest, the project secures £6.50 in additional income for clients 20 General Hospitals • Northumberland CAB set up the Low Income Good Health team with mental health service users and health care staff • Wirral CAB is a primary care advice liaison service, in conjunction with Advocacy in Wirral for NHS, PCT • Calderdale CAB fit4life information shop
North Area Statistics - Health • 101 Citizens Advice Bureaux in the North we have 275 Health Outreaches Located in: • 219 GP Surgeries • 20 General Hospitals • 14 Mental Health Day centres • 15 Psychiatric Hospitals • 42% of Bureaux provide hospital visit services
North Area Statistics - Health • Of all targeted advice sessions: • Disabled People – 26% • Mental Health Service Users – 24% • People with Learning Disabilities – 10% • Client Profile • In Q1 34% of clients seen (44,659) had long term health problems and/or disability (North West is second highest in the regions at 35% following Wales at 38%)
External Statistics - Health • MIND - Debt is not just a financial problem. Mind research shows it can have a serious impact on a person's mental health leading toanxiety and stress, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and isolation from society • Royal College of Psychiatrists (backed by FLA & MAT) • One in four adults will have a mental health problem at some point in their life • One in two adults with debts has a mental health problem. • One in four people with a mental health problem is also in debt
So what should CAB do? • Funding pressures will make new investments hard • Changes in fund holders may mean different people making decisions on advice in health settings • What was a good idea yesterday might not work today – listen to health needs, review and be innovative • Use your data, research and map the local need • Learn the language of health and talk it • Relationships will change – CAB need to identify the decision makers and put forward the business case • Sell the savings not just the service
The Opportunity to Add Value? • Clear and proven correlation between providing patients with advice and their improved well being • Spend money to save money • Prevention is cheaper than the cure • Empower GP’s to prescribe advice • Invest in advice in GP surgeries or hospitals • Changes in health often trigger benefits – increased income means improved health • Build local partnerships with CABx – develop projects and monitor the outcomes • Good Advice Adds Value!