The report 'A personal approach to public services' was a call to action and a challenge to policy-makers and those responsible for public services at a local level to consider what is being done, what needs to be done and what can be done to address health inequalities.
That call was answered when Baroness Greengross brought her question to the floor of the House of Lords. She asked if the government has plans to promote the use of health navigators in tackling health inequalities, as proposed in the report.
The government's response was strong, saying that it welcomed the report and that tackling health inequalities is a top priority.
The report was a collaborative effort between Dr Foster Intelligence and Turning Point. Turning Point Chief Executive, Lord Victor Adebowale, and Dr Foster Intelligence Chair of the Executive Board, Tim Kelsey, jointly chaired the advisory group that picked out a series of themes from the ongoing debate about improving public services and provided a practical agenda for each.
The report focuses on a range of ideas, techniques and examples in order to offer practical insight into meeting some of the immediate challenges facing PCTs and local authorities.
Health navigators would be the new breed of support workers. They would have generic skills and a deep knowledge and understanding of the system that would help them negotiate a personalised route for individuals through the complex maze of health, care, benefits, housing and criminal justice services. The navigator would remain involved until the individual's needs are addressed, thereby solving the problem of 'revolving door' patients.
"The people with the most complex needs are the ones that end up in a 'cul-de-sac'. The police know them, the schools know them, the GP knows them - but each of them only knows part of the story. What they need is a skilled navigator to make sure they get what they need from across the range of services," said Sir Mike Pitt, Chair, NHS South West.
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