Supporting Wellbeing Improving the Community’s Health (SWITCH)

An interview with Jayne Walton, Community Switch

Tell us a little bit about your role and the Community Switch programme?

"My name is Jayne, and I am the Digital Care Coordinator for the Crane Valley PCN (Primary Care Network). My role includes overseeing the running of all the digital projects within the PCN, which includes Community Switch. Community Switch is a database of groups, organisations and charities that provide services and expert advice. Community Switch works on the basis of how the person is feeling and the contents are co-created with our PPG (Patient Participation Group), so we feel like it's got some kind of connection with the patients and can understand how a person may be feeling, rather providing support from a clinical point of view or an admin point of view."

What type of support does the Community Switch programme enable people to access?

"Organisations and resources that are available on Community Switch are ever increasing so we're trying to add to it monthly at least. We have lots of resources on Community Switch, which include carers support, cancer support, drug and alcohol support, managing a long-term condition, and help and support with how people are feeling. We also have an events page with weekly or monthly groups and meetings, which will include lunch groups, and any social groups for people that may be lonely. The support really ranges from anything like loneliness, to help with long term health conditions, including our Blood Pressure Monitoring At Home App where people can record their blood pressure at home and upload it via the App. That is then seen by a clinician at the surgery they are registered with. This frees up nurses’ appointments, but it is also much nicer for the patient to be able to do something like that from home."

What are some of the issues or barriers that your clients are experiencing?

"I would say that the main barrier that people might experience and that we've come across is not having access to the Internet, or perhaps not being digitally able to look at the website. However, this is always overcome. I can write all the services that they can access in a letter which is personalised to the patient with a list of all the relevant contact details of services that they can access."

Are you able to give us an example of how the programme has made a positive impact?

"The programme has made a positive impact to many of our patients. For instance, we recently had a patient who was referred to me from one of our GPs (General Practitioners). They needed some extra support that the doctors and clinicians couldn't really offer. After our initial conversation I sent an email with quite a lot of contact details for the loneliness support resources and groups, and a gentle exercise class that the patient was hoping to start doing again. I’ve since heard that the patient has signed up to the exercise class and has been in contact with quite a few of the support resources, so that’s really positive feedback."

How often do you work with the Social Prescribers and how do they help you in your role?

"Our Social Prescribers are based at other GP surgeries, so we connect with them regularly. We either do a group Community Switch meeting between us and update each other on what's been happening, or we often keep in contact via email. I have access to their slots to book in patients if required and they help me within my role by providing contacts and further support if the patient needs more than what I can provide. The Social Prescribers visit patients in their homes, and we work quite closely together without being based in the same surgeries."

How can people access further information about the Community Switch programme?

"Community Switch can be accessed through the website, or they can ask any of the GP surgeries that are part of the Crane Valley PCN. These include the Cranbourne Practice, The Barcellos Family Practice, West Moors Village Practice and Verwood Surgery. Any of these surgeries will be able to help people to access the website or give them information via a letter if they are unable to access the website."