Higher than the regional average of just 2%, local health experts believe there may potentially be thousands more suffering from mild COPD completely unaware of the diagnosis.
Since her husband Tony’s* diagnosis some time ago, Christine* had been putting on a brave face whilst caring for her husband. When she called the GP practice for an appointment on that drizzly Tuesday, it was clear to hear how stressed and upset she’d become.
FROM CAUSE TO SOLUTION Like sixteen other practices in the western half of Wakefield, Church Street Surgery now benefits from care navigation as part of West Wakefield Health & Wellbeing's vanguard programme.
Over 120 front-line staff across these practices, such as receptionists and administrators, have been specially-trained to not triage the person ringing up for an appointment but to understand what the problem relates to so they can signpost and navigate the person to the right professional or service.
More often that not, it’s not always the GP or even the practice, that are best suited to help. Sure, none of this approach sounds like rocket science but it’s a simple and highly effective method that’s already been proven in Wakefield.
It helps people get to the right care they need, fast and the health professionals able to provide more care for those with complex, long-term health conditions.
SIGNPOSTING THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM To the care navigator answering Christine’s call that morning, it was all too clear that Tony’s condition was now taking its toll on her as well. She disclosed that she was now responsible for many of Tony’s everyday needs and that her husband was hard of hearing so he was unable to call the practice to book appointments for himself.
Christine was isolated and exhausted. Without a locally-recognised ‘pink carers card’ to prove Christine was a carer for Tony, the care navigator was unfortunately unable to get access to his records but she did have the solution to getting one thanks to care navigation.
The care navigator suggested Carers Wakefield & District could arrange the card over the telephone for her there and then.
Christine now had a lifeline that she hadn’t had before. The card enabled her to carry out certain tasks such as booking appointments and seeing her husband’s health records. And equally as important to this, Christine had been directed to the most appropriate local service for emotional support as well.
Thanks to care navigation, Christine was now on the way to finding a solution for their situation. It meant that she could take care of herself better so that in turn, she could care for Tony better.
The care navigator felt good about saving both Christine and the GP’s time and directing her to the most appropriate help needed too.
* Christine and Tony are fictional names to protect the patients’ identities.
** COPD stats sourced from local public health website, wakefieldjsna.co.uk.