Reporting and Evaluation
9.1 Data Gathered by GP Practice
As previously mentioned during the design phase it is important to agree what data will be expected to be gathered by each role within the Social Prescribing Referral Pathway. The agreed procedure will need to be referenced within the DPIA submission. The GP Practice will use their own Patient medical record system to record the social prescription. Consideration on updating the Patient record to report progress similar to a traditional medical prescription to evaluate the impact of the social prescription. It will not only monitor the impact upon the individual Patient but also provide evidence on the success of the overall Social Prescribing Referral Pathway.
The GP IT system has internal reporting features that can illustrate trends and patterns to GPs and GP Practice Management Teams. The Social Prescribing Referral Pathway may provide evidence on reduced GP appointments, reduction in pharmaceutical prescriptions and possibly reduction in Emergency Department presentations.
9.2 Data Gathered by GP Link Worker
As part of the existing GP Link Worker Programme there are already performance reporting procedures in place within each HSCP Primary Mental Health Teams. The GP Link Worker will be able to provide the following from their CMS System:
Gender
Age
Registered GP Practice
Assessment Outcome
Area of Support Required
Onward Referral Destination
Time between Receipt of Referral and Assessment
If additional reporting is required to support the Social Prescribing Referral Pathway evaluation and/or for the purpose of the GP Practice/GP Link Worker benefit, then this will require agreement between partners and referenced within the DPIA. It may be the case only volume data of Patients referred to a particular Service Provider is recorded.
9.3 Data Gathered by Service Provider
The identified Service Providers aligned to the social prescribing project may or may not want to have a formal referral pathway aligned to them as an organisation and prefer to remain as an ‘informal sign-posting organisation’. While, others are content to work through the necessary set-up procedures to become an established ‘formal’ social prescription Service Provider. As part of a ‘formal’ social prescription there needs to be an agreed MoU between the GP Practice and the Service Provider with regards to data recorded whether identifiable or non-identifiable data e.g. has the referred Person attended the Service Provider?
In terms of evaluation purposes and to support the future impact analysis of the social prescribing project there will be a requirement to gain information on the success rates of Service Provider Clients engaged with social prescribing activities. It is a good idea to discuss expectations with Service Providers on required reporting to confirm the Service Provider has the capacity to meet the project’s expectations.
9.4 Data Gathered by Public Health Scotland
Colleagues within PHS Local Intelligence Support Team (LIST) Team provide data analysis support for individual GP Practices as part of the Primary Care support for HSCPs. It would be worth considering to have the regional PHS LIST Team member invited to initial discussions concerning the social prescribing project. It is worth noting the data PHS LIST Team access and analyse is controlled by the HSCP and GP Practice and agreements would be required to share this with any other partners including other departments within NHS Grampian e.g. Public Health.
In addition NHS Grampian Public Health Intelligence Team may also be able to provide future analysis on the impact of the social prescribing project. In most cases to provide an accurate insight to the project identifiable data would be required. Therefore, discussions would need to be held preferably prior to submitting the DPIA.
9.5 Evaluating the Social Prescribing Pilot Project
When considering evaluation of the social prescribing project it is worth considering this at the beginning of the project and seek advice from colleagues within Public Health Intelligence. An agreed timescale on when to reflect on the implementation of the social prescribing project the short-medium and long-term impact. Agree data sources and any information governance arrangements to be able to illustrate the impact of the project. Consider where to obtain qualitative and quantitative data including the resource required to gather the data and analyse.