Bolton Health Information Partnership

View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Bolton Institutional Repository (UBIR) IN DEPTH Bolton Health Information Partnership An increased emphasis on ensuring greater patient and public involvement within the health and social care agenda has created a greater need for information provision tailored towards the needs of patients and the wider public. Dawn Grundy, Paula Elliott and Amanda Stevens explain how a cross-sector partnership in Bol- ton is changing the way healthcare information is accessed. INFORMAL partnerships between health and information organisations in Bolton have been embraced and expanded with the formal creation of Bolton Health Informa- tion Partnership (BHIP). The following article looks at the formation and work of Dawn Grundy, that partnership over the last two years. Academic Librarian, Faculty of Health & Wellbeing, University Our origins of Bolton. The initial consortium formed in 2017, bringing together representatives from: l Bolton Library and Museum Services l Macmillan Cancer Information Services l Bolton NHS Foundation Trust Library Services l University of Bolton Library Paula Elliott, Library Manager, Bolton NHS Historically, informal partnerships between Foundation Trust Library Services. some of these organisations had resulted in library access agreements being set up and collaboration at events such as a Human Library and the annual Bolton Health Mela. However, by 2017 a new impetus to work together came with Health Information Week and the Knowledge for Healthcare initiative Amanda Stevens, Developing and building local networks and Library, Museum and partnerships which sought to bring together Information Services Team Leader, Bolton local library services across a range of organi- Library and Museum sations to provide health information. Services. Nationally, public libraries were already delivering the Libraries Connected (formerly Society of Chief Librarians) Universal Health Offer. This builds on the recognition of public library services meet regularly to develop libraries as trusted spaces which deliver regional delivery of health information. health information and recreational activities However, the growing importance of patient to help people better manage their health involvement in health and social care services and wellbeing. In Greater Manchester was leading to the development of local 24 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL October-November 2019 multi-sector networks not only allowing for a more collaborative approach to health information, but also the sharing of ideas and good practice. With this in mind BHIP was formed and its purpose set out in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which the named parties above signed. Purpose of the MoU l To agree to establish a network in order to build understanding and strengthen working relationships l To identify where each partner can be more impactful, effective and efficient by working together l To agree to work in partnership to provide health information to patients, public, staff and learners l To articulate and describe mutual expectations and any agreed commitments for this joint working. The MoU also includes aims and objectives. For the group as a whole, the aim is to help people in Bolton with their health and wellbeing; the main ways to do this are: MacMillan Cancer Support event at the Royal Bolton Hospital. l To promote the importance of health literacy, including functional personal- In addition to this we developed clear roles at the university. ised information, which all people can and responsibilities fit for purpose for each make sense of and act on, to assist them Public library staff were busy all week of our own organisations and an example with a timetable of events including: to make informed choices, share in of this would be: decisions about their care and treatment, l Health agencies including Macmillan take control and improve the quality of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust Library Cancer, Diabetes UK, Bolton Public their life: Services agrees to: Health, Smoking Cessation, Dementia specialists and Deafway, on hand to pro- l To share and communicate good l work with local health information vide information and advice to the public practice. providers to share guidance, good practice, expertise, experience and resources l A mindfulness workshop All parties also agree: l promote and build the public library l Launch of the new Books on Prescription l To operate as strategic partners, look- profile by encouraging structural relation- collection, ‘Reading Well for People with ing for suitable opportunities to promote ships at a local and regional level Long Term Conditions’. Titles cover condi- the aims stated in the MoU tions such as arthritis, IBS, asthma, COPD, l work with Trust staff to encourage active l To work together on an increased diabetes, stroke, pain management etc engagement with public libraries via rela- evidence base to support these aims and tionships with local authorities l A smoothie bike event at Central Library objectives which gave staff the opportunity to pro- l facilitate/coordinate mutual training l To work with partners to share mote healthy eating and the NHS Live Well opportunities. guidance, good practice, expertise, five a day campaign. experience and resources Examples of how this came into force: Working together in practice Health Information Week 2017 l To facilitate/coordinate mutual training Our ethos is that working in partnership Staff from Library Services, MacMillan opportunities enables our organisations to use resources Information and University of Bolton more efficiently and by working together l To work on joint projects and events, Library came together in the Education such as Health Information Week. we can achieve more than working alone. Centre Library at Royal Bolton Hospital for Networking within the partnership connects l That any formal or detailed arrange- an event covering: any information professionals across Bolton ments developed to implement joint l Cancer information – attendees could who are working within the health and actions through this agreement will be find out more from MacMillan staff by wellbeing arena and our group membership recorded and shared through the respec- visiting their information stand is open to anyone who meets that criteria. tive reporting arrangements to ensure The BHIP hopes to share good practices l Cancer collection – browse new titles that appropriate governance is established which could be established in other regions; available for Library Services members to and good practice is cascaded. These will work together to deliver training by NHS borrow include: information professionals for public library l Development of any structural l HeLP@Bolton – chat to the Librarian staff in health information enquiries; relationships from the School of Health and Human redirect queries from members of the Sciences at the University of Bolton about public to other organisations to ensure the l Building the evidence base the library resources and services availa- most appropriate response; co-ordinating l Nominating an alternative contact ble and the HeLP@Bolton scheme, which reading challenges and sharing resources. person if the named lead changes. enables NHS staff to use library facilities A recent example of where we have shared October-November 2019 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 25 our experiences in the North West is at the each other’s work successfully, whilst reliable web sites providing health Greater Manchester Health Library Partner- combining on projects where appropriate.” related information ship Event which took place in Manchester – Patrick Long, Bolton CVS. l Increase the confidence of staff to be on the 14th May 2019. able to answer health related questions In terms of sharing information and gen- Health Information Week 2019 quickly and accurately so that patients erating new ideas for collaboration between Health Information Week has given Bolton and the public: ourselves, the group meets three times a Library and Museum Services the oppor- l Have answers to health related year for a few hours. We rotate the hosting to tunity to focus on popular events, such as questions answered quickly and give attendees the opportunity to see other NHS trainer drop in sessions, and host workplaces and services in action. We have local organisations offering health advice accurately also set up a blog to act as a repository for across the library network in a single week. l Can be confident that the answers resources and to document our work: https:// However, it has also allowed the service to they receive come from high boltonhealthinformationpartnership.wordpress.com/ develop new ideas which in 2019 included quality, reliable sources of health a Menopause Meet Up which was both related information Growth in Partnerships well-attended and well-received. l Increase their awareness of high Since its formation the membership has For Health Information Week 2019, quality, reliable sources of health grown to include Diabetes UK, Bolton CVS Bolton NHS Foundation Trust Library related information (Council for Voluntary Services), Bolton Services and University of Bolton Library College, Bolton Public Health and the part- focused their activities around the themed Future Plans nership looks forward to welcoming Bolton Health Information Week tweets to pro- The group intend to continue to meet up Carers Support at our next meeting. These mote resources such as health

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