South Staffordshire Primary Care Trusts Links with Primary Care Trusts (PCTS)

Jo Robins
Primary Care Trust, South Staffordshire
tel 01889 571 700
email jo.robins@southstaffspct.nhs.uk

Achievements

Over the past year, South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (SSPCT) has formed strong partnership links with SASSOT. In July - October 2007, SASSOT supported the PCT to develop and submit a Community Investment Fund bid to Sport England. As a result the PCT was awarded £239,399 for the development and delivery of Health Fit, South Staffordshire PCT’s integrated physical activity programme. Subsequently SASSOT play an active role in the development of the programme, offering the PCT advice and guidance and enhance partnership links with key players. Funding will be used to employ two Physical Activity Development Officers (PADOs) to work with local authorities, sports clubs and the voluntary sector to develop appropriate physical activity opportunities for adults identified with health risks. SASSOT will host the posts on behalf of the
PCT to ensure they have full access to SASSOT’s local knowledge and partners.  South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust also has a health representative on each of the Community Sports Networks that are established in the area. 

Plans for the next 12 months

• In 2008/09 SSPCT will implement the Health Fit programme. The aim of the programme is to increase physical activity in adults with identified health risks. It will be targeted in deprived areas at adults over the age of 45 to include women, BME groups and people on low incomes. Patients will be identified in primary care via GP registers, risk assessed and given a brief intervention. Appropriate patients will be referred to health trainers for one to one motivational and behavioural support to make lifestyle changes. A personal health plan will be developed containing individual goals (e.g. participate in physical activity 3 times per week) and ways to achieve these.
• Patients will be signposted to services including weight management, stop smoking and ‘Health Fit’.
• South Staffordshire PCT has also been selected to host the West Midlands rural physical activity pilot which will commence in September 2008 for one year.  
• The PCT are currently developing a five year plan on physical activity and will ensure this supports and adds value to the countywide strategy developed by SASSOT.
• The new Local Area Agreement includes the indicator NI 8 adult participation in sport and the PCT is the designated delivery lead within the improving health cluster.

Delivery plans will be developed in conjunction with the PCT.