52. Community health needs consultation in a deprived and geographically isolated town (386)

Tony Long, Professor of Child and Family Health, Salford Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Collaborative Research, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
Co authors:  Debbie Fallon, Patric Devitt, Eileen Oak, Michael Murphy & Lindsey Dugdill
t.long@salford.ac.uk

Abstract:

This poster presentation details the methods and findings from a health needs consultation in a deprived and geographically isolated township. The consultation sought to identify health and social trends for the area, identifying perceived health needs of the local community, and inform development and improvement of services. SureStart children’s centres are crucial to delivery of Every Child Matters outcomes (being safe and healthy, enjoying and achieving, economic wellbeing, and making a contribution) as well as offering support for parenting. This children’s centre sought to develop its service and to increase the numbers of registered users particularly among “hard to reach” groups in the locality. Leafleting, street-canvassing, primary school newsletters and posters were used to advise the community of the consultation. Data was collected by telephone interviews, focus groups with parents and professionals, face-to-face interviews, structured interviews in the town centre streets, and analysis of policy and health statistics documents. 18 workers/professionals and 99 residents participated, including gypsy travellers, parents of disabled children, and young mothers. A version of framework analysis was employed. The area was characterised by geographical isolation, inadequate transport links and limited sources of good value local food supplies. There were issues of territoriality between deprived and more affluent areas. The hard to reach groups were “service resistant” rather than “minorities”. The key areas of Every Child Matters were not meaningful concepts to most parents in terms of connecting to their children’s health. Residents and professionals recognised low levels of parental expectations for their children. Specific barriers to service uptake were identified, but the children’s centre made a positive contribution to the health and well being of the population, providing a good service in terms of variety, resources, and professional help. Better access to some services, revised opening times, additional transport, and integration of provision for siblings resulted.

Recommended reading list:

• Department for Education and Skills (2004) Every child matters: change for children. London: DfES
• Department of Health (2006) Healthy start: delivering Healthy Start. A guide for health professionals. London: DH. (Also available at www.healthystart.nhs.uk)
• Ritchie J, Spencer L (1994) Qualitative data analysis for applied policy research. in Bryman and Burgess (eds) Analysing qualitative data London: Routledge pp173-194

Source of Funding:  Trafford Primary Care Trust

Amount in Funding:  10,001 - 50,000


Biography:

Tony Long is Professor of Child and Family Health in the University of Salford Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Collaborative Research, and Associate Head of School for Research in the School of Nursing. He leads on research with children and families and has published widely in this field as well as on health professional education and professional regulation. He researches issues in the health and wellbeing of children and young people, particularly relating to services for children and families, the preparation of health care workers to work with them, and safeguarding children.