8/13/2019 PLMR's Account Executive Antonio Dorileo featured in February's Healthcare Business

1/110 Healthcare BusinessApril 2010

From March, the way thatinformation is gathered andutilised in healthcare in the UK will

change. A new strategy on how dataacross the NHS will be collected, usedand shared was announced in May2012, and leaflets explaining it arecurrently dropping through theletterboxes of millions of homes acrossthe country. But what might appear tobe an innocuous piece of unassumingpost is hugely important. This is apolicy that could revolutionise the waythat healthcare is practiced in the UK.

The collection of healthcare data inthe UK is nothing new. Information onhospital admissions for example, hasbeen gathered since the 1980s, andutilising patient data more widely hasbeen planned for since the early Labourgovernments NHS NationalProgramme for IT, which never becamea reality. Seen this way, care.data thenew systems name is simply acontinuation of what has gone before.With additional patient data from GPpractices and other care settings suchas community health services, a

complete picture of the effectivenessand efficiency of healthcare in the UKas a whole will be available, and couldgenerate considerable savings at a timewhen the NHS is under financial andcapacity pressures. Most importantly,it could ultimately lead to improvedquality of healthcare for patients.

But these changes are not withouttheir detractors. Civil libertycampaigners are uneasy, as patients arebeing automatically opted-into thesystem, and argue that opting-out isdifficult. Others are also concerned

that identifiable patient data could beused for commercial purposes.However, supporters have

countered these, noting that were thesystem to be opt-in, it would bedoomed at inception. The government,and the agency leading the project and

collating data the Health and SocialCare Information Centre (HSCIC) have also made guarantees that datasubmitted to the HSCIC by GPs willbe anonymised automatically, witheach item assigned a code. Thesedatasets will only include a patientsNHS number, date of birth, gender

and postcode, and only made more

widely available in exceptionalcircumstances, such as public healthemergencies. This is then madecompletely anonymous before beingmade available to third parties such asNHS health commissioners. It will onlybe accessible by researchers,universities and private health providersfollowing formal requests and intensescrutiny.

So is there really anything to fear?The American presidential elections

saw both of Barack Obamascampaigns rely heavily on thecollection of data left by individualsacross the internet, which informedtailored phrases and the high lightingof particular policies to potential voterson the doorstep. People are more thanhappy to pepper their online worldswith information which is freelyavailable to the public, and alreadyused for commercial gain, so it couldbe argued that collating healthcaredata is a natural progression, differentsimply because this works towards an

improvement of our healthcare.There are several existing examplesof healthcare data being usedeffectively. For example, ParklandHospital in Dallas, Texas in the UnitedStates collects patient data togetherand uses complex algorithms toidentify high-risk patients. Thisinnovation has seen readmissionsreduced by 31 per cent, and estimatedsavings of $500,000.

The possibilities of this could beendless, with supporters insisting it willlead to improved targeting ofhealthcare spending, earlier detectionof diseases, mapping the spread ofnew illnesses, answeringepidemiological questions fromacademia, or if permitted thedevelopment more effective drugs.The concerns surrounding theprotection of data and privacy cannotbe ignored, and may need to beaddressed further. But perhaps this is adevelopment as a benefit of theadvanced world in which we live thatshould be embraced. Members of thepublic will have to carefully considerwhat that blue leaflet through their

door is asking. Enthusiasts will claim itcould save their life.

Antonio DorileoAccount Executive, PLMR020 7622 9529www.plmr.co.uk

Hereford's Courtyard has receiveda boost to continue itsdevelopment of arts for older

people.Arts Council England and the

Baring Foundation have given

250,000 to the Edgar Street centre aspart of the pairing's Arts and OlderPeople project.

In partnership with ShawHealthcare, the Courtyard will set upprojects in 32 of Shaw's care homesacross the country.

These projects will be led by fourarts practitioners who specialise invisual art, theatre, dance and poetryover a three-year period.

Alice Saunders, project co-ordinator at The Courtyard, said: Thisis a unique and valuable opportunity

for The Courtyard to share anddevelop our work on a national levelworking alongside experts within thefield.

"Acclaimed dementia poet JohnKillick, theatre director Liz Postle-thwaite, dance artist Diane Amans andvisual arts curator Rachel Mortimer willtrain and mentor 16 practitioners whowill work on creative residencies thatwill capture the imaginations andprovide a voice for the older people

they will be working alongside.Relationships and social interaction

will be at the heart of the project,allowing older people to express theirideas, likes, dislikes and opinionsthroughout the project.

In February this year, The Courtyardbecame the first arts venue to join theDementia Action Alliance, establishingthe centre as a leader in thedevelopment of dementia friendly artsvenues and programme a range ofactivities.

Peter Knott, Midlands area directorof Arts Council England, said: TheCourtyards approach to providing artsactivities for older people and peopleliving with dementia has beeninspiring.

"In Herefordshire, the project has

reached more than 6,500 people and Iam really pleased that with thesupport of this funding they will beable to continue this good work inother regions.

"The Courtyard has a proven planto make their work in care homesacross the country sustainable and theprojects they have planned will helpmake the quality of life for thoseindividuals and their families muchbetter.

Courtyard boost arts forolder people

Astrong bond forged with a carehome maintenance man hasgiven an Armagh care home

resident a new lease of life.Alfie Hill, who is in his 70s and has

learning difficulties and is physicallydisabled, moved into Amore CaresApple Mews almost a year ago after alife spent predominately in long-term,institutional care.

A firm friendship with AppleMews maintenance man Johnny

McKenna has enabled Alfie to involvehimself in everyday tasks and activitiesthat have led to a quality of life andlevel of independence he neverdreamed of attaining.

Johnny, who has worked at AppleMews since October 2012 afterspending most of his working life onbuilding sites, attended Amore CaresCreative Minds training, designed tomotivate all care home staff andencourage creative ideas to improvethe quality of life for residents.

Despite not having a care

background, Johnny embraced theethos of the programme and engagedwith Alfie in a way that changed hislife. Alfie now helps around the home,goes fishing with Johnny and evenmows the lawns from his wheelchair,with a little innovative assistance from

Johnny. He is so motivated in his lifethat he has started regularphysiotherapy with the ultimate aim ofwalking again.

Rosemary Dilworth, Apple Mewshome manager, said: The CreativeMinds programme is designed to helpeveryone working within our homes toengage with residents in innovativeways that improve the quality of life.

Johnny is a fantastic example ofsomeone who has never worked in acare environment before but haswelcomed the opportunity to develop

his skills and is now engaging withresidents in a way that is changingtheir lives.

His friendship with Alfie isinspirational and perfectlydemonstrates the value of the CreativeMinds programme.

New lease of life for Alfie

Data the right directionfor UK healthcare?