Socially Prescribing Digital Skills in Sheffield
Can the introduction of digital within social prescribing help people to take more ownership of their health and wellbeing?
Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have worked with two local neighbourhoods to look at how to introduce patients to digital technology through social prescribing. Digital technology can support social prescribing. In turn, this can benefit patient activation and self-management of health.
An economic model, based on Good Things Foundation’s Widening Digital Participation project, suggests that patients accessing health information online could save the NHS £121 million a year by 2025.
This pathfinder worked with the CCG, GPs, voluntary organisations, practice staff and existing patients to design a social prescribing model tailored to the needs of local residents.
The documents below show how to engage patients in digital technology to support their health. They do this by demonstrating the benefits of:
Linking with community centres, such as the Online Centres Network
Understanding the journeys of patients and how the word ‘digital’ acts as an artificial barrier
Distinguishing between digital transactions (GP appointments online, repeat prescriptions etc) and digital health (online tools to manage health, access to trusted information and advice)
858People engaged in the Pathfinder
108People supported
in depth
47Digital Champions Recruited
Explore our pathfinder activity in Sheffield
Pathfinder documents
'How To' Guide
A guide to show how to start this up in your local area.
Pathfinder Evaluation
A Realist Evaluation of the pathfinder focussing on what works, for whom and in what context. Evaluating the mechanisms of engagement.
Pathfinder Report
An evolving document tracking the progress of the Pathfinder
Case Studies
A collection of case studies to review from the pathfinder
Pathfinder Iteration
A write up of the things we've changed through our findings during the first 3 months
Design session 1 – Stakeholder Engagement
A write up of the first design session held with the CCG, medical professionals and community organisations.
Design Session 2 – Porter Valley
A write up of the second design session where we spent time with the practice staff and community nurses from the Porter Valley neighbourhood.
Design Session 2 – South Sheffield
A write up of the second design session where we spent time with the practice staff and community nurses and patients from the South Sheffield neighbourhood.
Design Session 3 – Model design workshop
A write up of the third design session where we spent time with both neighbourhoods to finalise their models to test in the Pathfinder.
