Health facilitation in primary care seen from practice and education.
'Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century' (Department of Health, 2001a,b) aimed to introduce 'health facilitation' to improve the identification of health needs and access to appropriate care for people with learning disabilities. One London Borough took a leading role in implementing this new function, in the form of dedicated, full-time health facilitators. The authors examined the implementation and its impact, employing an innovative collaboration between professionals from practice, education and research. The clinical nurse involved was observed during her first year of health facilitation. The authors evaluated her impact on professionals, people with learning disabilities and the wider system of health. In some areas (for example, information technology) the health facilitator could make little progress in one year. However, she connected with a widening circle of local people and services, for example, in introducing health action plans for adults with a learning disability. Across the Borough some professionals became more aware of specific health issues in their local population.
Thomson
Karen
K
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.
Gripton
Jane
J
Lutchmiah
John
J
Caan
Woody
W
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008131:London; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*