Integrated services for people with long-term neurological conditions: an evaluation of the National Service Framework

Researchers: Professor Gillian Parker, Sylvia Bernard, Fiona Aspinal, Kate Gridley
(External collaborators) Rachel Fyson, Mark Lymbery, Helen McLoughry, Christopher Ward

Funder: NIHR Service Delivery and Organisation programme

Duration: May 2006 – September 2010

Work on the NSF for Long Term Neurological Conditions is now complete. A full list of publications and presentations is available at the bottom of this page, here are links to the main output from the project:

• the Research summary is available here, with access to the full report and appendices.
• the benchmarking tool is available here
• a further study concerning LTNCs is taking place at SPRU: Assessing outcomes of integrated care for long-term neurological conditions.

Background

The National Service Framework (NSF) for Long Term Neurological Conditions (LTNCs) encouraged service providers to integrate specialist and non-specialist services within the health service, social services, the voluntary or independent sectors and other services. However there was little guidance about what helps organisations to do this, or about how to judge whether they have achieved it.

Aims

This project identified what helps or hinders integrated services and designed a benchmarking system, based on these factors. The key question was how different people with LTNCs (men/women; older people/younger people; people from minority ethnic communities etc) and people with different types of LTNCs experienced integration. The work was staged:-

• a scoping exercise and rapid review of evidence on best models of integrated service provision for LTNCs, how to achieve them, and their impact
• in-depth case studies in six neurology ‘service systems’ identified the key indicators of good quality, integrated service provision and explained its impact on service users and their families or carers
• material from the first two stages was used to develop benchmarks to assess the type, quality and impact of integrated services in local areas
• the benchmarks were used to assess the development of integrated services nationally as the NSF was implemented

The six case studies covered more and less integrated service systems and a diversity of populations and areas. People affected by LTNCs, their support networks, professionals and practitioners across health and social services, the independent sector and other relevant services formed the samples for all stages. People affected by LTNCs and their organisations were full partners in the research. Diversity of need was central to the project.

Professional press coverage: integrated care in local areas

Community Care, 25 November 2010. Research and Evidence: Integrated care in local areas

Publications and presentations

Show Abstract...

2012

Promoting continuity of care for people with long-term neurological conditions: the role of the neurology nurse specialist, (forthcoming)
Aspinal, F., Gridley, K., Bernard, S. and Parker, G., Journal of Advanced Nursing, (Available online from 25 January 2012).

Benchmarking integrated care for people with long-term neurological conditions, (forthcoming)
Bernard, S., Aspinal, F., Gridley, K. and Parker, G., Journal of Integrated Care.

Can general practitioner commissioning deliver equity and excellence? Evidence from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS, 2012
Gridley, K., Spiers, G., Aspinal, F., Bernard, S., Atkin, K. and Parker, G., Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 17, 2, 87-93.

2011

Integrated community teams: promoting continuity of care for people with long-term neurological conditions?
Aspinal, F., Recent Developments and Future Challenges of Integrated Care in Europe and Northern America, 11th International Conference on Integrated Care, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, 31 March-1 April 2011.

Integrated services for people with long-term neurological conditions. Invited presentation and poster.
Bernard, S., Launch of the North Yorkshire and York Regional Neurological Alliance, York, 1 April 2011.

Services that promote continuity of care: key findings from an evaluation of the national service framework for long-term neurological conditions, 2011
Gridley, K., Aspinal, F., Bernard, S. and Parker, G., Social Care and Neurodisability, 2, 3, 147-157.

Drawing on the evidence for integrated working. Invited.
Parker, G., NHS Confederation and Service Delivery and Organisation Network Regional Membership Meeting, Coventry, 8 December 2011.

2010

Altogether ... how? Promoting continuity of care for people with long-term neurological conditions
Aspinal, F., All Together Now: Exploring the Many Faces and Facets of Integrated Care, 10th International Conference on Integrated Care, Tampere, Finland, 16-18 June 2010.

Summary Tables Benchmarking Survey for People with Long Term Neurological Conditions (LTNCs) Summer 2009, 2010
Bernard, S. Aspinal, F., Gridley, K. and Parker, G., Social Policy Research Unit, 5 pages.

Integrated services for people with long-term neurological conditions: evaluation of the impact of the National Service Framework. Invited.
Bernard, S., North of Tyne Neurological Forum, Newcastle, 9 December 2010.

Service models for promoting continuity of care for people with long-term neurological conditions. Invited presentation
Bernard, S., 'Delivering Better Health Services'. Health Services Research Network and Service Delivery and Organisation Network Joint Conference, Manchester, 2-3 June 2010.

Integrated services for people with long-term neurological conditions: Evaluation of the impact of the National Service Framework, 2010
Bernard, S., Aspinal, F., Gridley, K. and Parker, G., Research Works, 2010-05, Social Policy Research Unit.

Integrated Services for People with Long-term Neurological Conditions: Evaluation of the Impact of the National Service Framework: Appendices, 2010
Bernard, S., Aspinal, F., Gridley, K. and Parker, G., Social Policy Research Unit, 131 pages.

Integrated Services for People with Long-term Neurological Conditions: Evaluation of the Impact of the National Service Framework: Final Report, 2010
Bernard, S., Aspinal, F., Gridley, K. and Parker, G..

National Benchmark of Services for People with Long-term Neurological Conditions (LTNCs), 2010
Bernard, S., Aspinal, F., Gridley, K. and Parker, G., Social Policy Research Unit, 33 pages.

Integrated services for people with long-term neurological conditions: the impact of the National Service Framework. Poster presentation.
Gridley, K., More Life, Less Hassle, Northern Neurological Alliance Conference, Durham, 25 November 2010. PDF of poster

Services that promote continuity of care: key findings from an evaluation of the National Service Framework
Gridley, K., The Way Ahead 2010, University of Warwick, 10 July 2010. PDF of presentation

Rapid Systematic Review of International Evidence on Integrated Models of Care for People with Long-term Neurological Conditions: Technical Report, 2010
Parker, G., Bernard, S., Gridley, K., Aspinal, F. and Light, K.

2009

Integrated services for people with long-term neurological conditions
Bernard, S., Aspinal, F., Gridley, K. and Parker, G., Department of Health Research Initiative for Long-Term Conditions: Advisory Group and Researchers' Meeting, London, 18 November 2009.

2008

Integrated policy making in England for adults with long-term neurological conditions (LTNCs): some preliminary findings from a scoping study, 2008
Bernard, S., Aspinal, F., Gridley, K. and Parker, G., International Journal of Integrated Care, 8, 3, 1-8.

Integration of services: an evaluation of the NSF
Gridley, K. and Parker, G., Mid-term Review of the Long Term Neurological Conditions Research Initiative, London, 14 October 2008.

2007

Integrated care for people with long-term neurological conditions - six monthly progress report
Bernard, S., Department of Health Long-term Neurological Conditions Research Initiative - Advisory Group and Researchers Meeting, Sheffield, 17 April 2007.

Integrated care for people with long-term neurological conditions: the impact of the National Service Framework
Bernard, S., Ist Meeting of the Quality Neurology Steering Group, King's Fund, London, 3 October 2007.

2006

Integrated care for people with long-term conditions. Impact of the National Service Framework
Parker, G. and Bernard, S., 7th Annual Conference of the International Network of Integrated Care 'Models and Innovations in Chronic Disease Management and Long-term Care, London, 29 November 2006.

If you require further information about the project, please contact Sylvia Bernard