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Current Research In April each year the Council plans what research will be conducted in the following 12 months. This is outlined in the Council's annual Programme of Work. Sometimes there is an overlap from year to year as it is not always possible to complete research within the calendar year as very often a project is not started until later on. The Council is involved with the following projects during 2003-04. Some are ongoing and some have yet to be initiated. For further information on any of the projects listed below contact Stella Cunningham, Chief Officer. For completed and published research click here.
In late 2004 the DHSSPS commenced the task of developing a strategy for the delivery of Primary Dental Care Services for Northern Ireland over the next ten years. This report on Patients' Experience of Using General Dental Services was published in August 2005. Click here for the report
The NI Bugwatch pilot was developed by the four
Health and Social Services Councils to support the Councils' lay
visiting activity in relation to Healthcare Associated Infection
(HCAI) and to promote patient/public input into the NI strategy.
NI Bugwatch was based on a model developed by the Commission for
Public and Patient Involvement in Health in England (CPPIH). It
provides a simple tick-box checklist in relation to hospital hygiene
that The NI Bugwatch surveys were carried out in 8 hospitals
during 'Bugwatch Week' 19-23 September 2005, and the report was published in November 2005. Click here for the report
The report, 'We Are People Too', explores the patient's journey through the GP service from the perspective of the Citizenship Group at Prospects Day Opportunities Newry. This group of 16 adults with a learning disability and their support staff worked with the Southern Health and Social Services Council to jointly produce the report. Click here for the report
This research is based upon work by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) which identified two stages of service user participation. The first stage is ‘adaptive’ and is concerned with establishing the principle of service user participation and the setting up of processes. The second is ‘transformational’ and describes organisational change brought about by service user participation. This appeared to us to be a helpful idea in looking at the current situation and prompting debate about where we should go from here. This report provides an overview of what is happening in the Southern Area. Click here for the report Click here for the summary report
Casualty Watch January 2006 This Casualty Watch Report details the findings of the snapshot survey.
Click here for the report
The purpose of this report is to:
Click here for the report
The Council is working in partnership with the Southern Area Hospice on a study of the views of patients and carers of the services provided by the hospice. A steering group has been established to guide the research, and ethical approval had been granted from the University of Ulster Research Ethics Committee. A 3-strand qualitative methodology has been developed to explore the views and experiences of patients, relatives and bereaved relatives of the quality of care provided by the Southern Area Hospice. This includes:-
Interviewing of patients and relatives for Strands 1 and 2 began in June 2003 and has just been completed. Strand 3 has yet to be conducted. Status:- Ongoing.
Work on this project was initiated late in 2002/03. A steering group of Council members and MENCAP representatives has been established to oversee the project, and in line with MENCAP policy their representatives include 2 members with learning disabilities. There are 4 main elements to this fact-finding project:-
On completion the report will form the basis for the Council's advocacy work on behalf of service users and their families. Status:- Ongoing.
The Council included in its 2002/03 work programme a study to examine the provision of mental health services to children and young people, with particular emphasis on the provision of acute mental health services, Work on the project has not yet commenced and the project has been carried forward to the 2003/04 programme. Status:- To be initiated.
There are 2 sets of procedures operating in Northern Ireland with regards to complaints about health and social services made by, or on behalf of, children - the Children (NI) Order 1995 Procedures and the Wilson NHS Complaints Procedures. The 4 Health and Social Services Councils jointly funded the Centre for Childcare at Queen's University to carry out some research into the working of these two sets of procedures. The report of the research was published in July 2003. It includes a number of recommendations as to how to improve the complaints process for children including some relevant to the Council's work. Implementation and follow-up will form part of the Council's programme for this year. Status:- This project has been completed and a report was published in July 2003 The report is available here in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, or you can request a copy by e-mailing us.
The Southern Health and Social Services Board is currently conducting an evaluation of the intermediate care services operating within the Southern Board area. Intermediate care is the name given to the special type of short-term care provided to patients to help them to be as independent as possible. This is provided after a patient leaves hospital or to prevent a patient being admitted and it can be provided in the patient's own home, in a nursing or residential home or in a daycare setting. As part of this evaluation, the Council agreed to conduct a study to find out the views and experiences of users of the various intermediate care schemes throughout the Southern Board area. In order to undertake this project the Board provided the Council with funding to employ a Research Assistant for 20 weeks. All patients admitted to one of the intermediate care schemes between 1 April and 30 June 2003 are currently being invited (after they are discharged) to take part in a one-to-one interview. The interviews explore patients' views of the following aspects of care:-
Status:- Ongoing.
South Tyrone Hospital has requested the assistance of the Council in conducting a consumer audit of the theatre and day procedures departments. The Council has agreed to undertake this audit and will look at areas such as the provision of information, accessibility, waiting facilities etc. Council members will be actively involved in the audit, and the Council will draw on the experience of similar work carried out by the Northern Health and Social Services Council. Status:- To be initiated. Southern Health and
Social Services Council, Quaker Buildings, High Street, Lurgan, Co. Armagh,
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