One of the challenges we face is reaching the people who most need our support and we work in partnership with a range of local organisations who make referrals into our service. Over the last few years we have linked up with Primary Care Networks in Selby, Tadcaster, Bridlington and Withernsea to take a targeted, proactive approach to supporting households whose health is most at risk from cold homes.
How does it work?
We agree a patient cohort to target, which have included over 65s with respiratory illnesses, those with severe mental health conditions, residents over the age of 90 who live alone and people with circulatory diseases.
The PCN sends a letter and enquiry form to those patients telling them about potential help available around energy bills, energy efficiency schemes, benefits advice, safe and well visits from the Fire Services, and the Priority Services Register.
If the patient wants to access advice on any or all of these topics, they return the letter in the prepaid envelope provided and one of our team gets in touch to provide support.
Does anyone return the form?
Thankfully yes! On our recent projects in East Riding we had response rates of around 15% from 750 letters and we had similar uptake from previous initiatives in Selby and Tadcaster.
What difference did it make?
The following were the outputs from the Bridlington PCN project which primarily focused on ensuring people were safe and well over the winter, alongside generating total financial benefit of around £10,000.
Who covers the cost?
These initiatives have been possible thanks to two projects funded by Northern Gas Networks: ‘Heating for Health’ and ‘Warm Homes Healthy People: East Riding’. We receive grants from their ‘Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance’ fund to cover the costs of postage and our staff time to deliver advice. The PCNs contributed their own staff time to post out the initial letters.
For more information contact Kate: kate@yorkshireenergydoctor.org.uk