Improving access to personalised healthcare in coastal Devon
In Ilfracombe, North Devon, a new primary care outreach service at a community centre is improving healthcare access, by offering routine assessments and colorectal cancer testing to high-risk, underserved residents.
Ilfracombe faces stark health inequalities due to deprivation, limited social housing and vulnerable populations with barriers to healthcare access. Belle’s Place, a local hub, supports over 200 residents, many with significant health needs who struggle to access healthcare via the traditional routes.
Funded by NHS England’s Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme, Health Innovation South West and One Northern Devon are collaborating to trial a person-centred primary care outreach model at Belle’s Place to enhance healthcare access and cancer testing for this vulnerable community.
At Belle’s Place, GPs from Combe Coastal Practice provide routine care sessions twice a month. The service aims to offer:
- Personalised routine GP care – including signposting for ongoing care if required.
- Earlier identification of chronic disease such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and various cancers
- Mental health/chronic disease reviews and management
The Belle’s Place project explores alternative care delivery methods with the potential to reduce unscheduled care needs like emergency attendances and hospital admissions. Insights gained provide recommendations to reshape healthcare services for vulnerable groups, creating environments that foster trust, promote acceptance and provide space for patients to feel heard, all of which can contribute to the well-being of individuals seeking healthcare. The aim is to replicate successful models in rural and coastal areas, thereby increasing equitable healthcare access and improving health outcomes.
- A total of 58 appointments were held. 31 individuals received personalised healthcare by a GP, with the majority (27 people) coming for follow-up sessions following their initial appointment. The majority of those were male, white British, and over 50.
- 61.3% of the cohort received a blood pressure check, 12.9% a qFIT test, and 83.9% were referred to additional services.
- An increasing uptake of FIT testing among vulnerable populations, thereby reducing colorectal cancer disparities, improving early cancer detection, and potentially saving lives and reducing long-term healthcare costs
- In addition, earlier identification and treatment of mental health difficulties and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.
- This project was selected to be presented at the annual “Tackling Health Inequalities through Innovation & Entrepreneurship” conference at the Royal Society of Medicine in January 2023. The conference, attended by professionals across the country, was aimed at accelerating local healthcare inequalities improvements.
Website Links
- Belle’s Place
- Improving access to routine healthcare among vulnerable communities in rural North Devon
- Royal Society of Medicine’s Tackling Inequalities
- Devon County Council Strategic Plan 2021-25 Tackling poverty and inequality – Strategic Plan
- One Devon Partnership Integrated Care Strategy, June 2023 Devon Plan – including the Joint Forward Plan and Integrated Care Strategy
- Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2021: health in coastal communities
- One Northern Devon
It was very helpful. I spent about 45 minutes in there. He went through everything; he asked about problems. He went straight on to follow up. I had a response from the things that the doctor arranged for me within a week.
Feedback from a patient user of a GP drop-in session at Belle’s Place
