Dr Foster Intelligence

In July 2008, the trust embarked on an ambitious three year programme, in partnership with Dr Foster Intelligence, to better understand the needs of our diverse communities in order to reduce health inequalities.

Through research carried out by Dr Foster, the trust is building up a better picture of its communities which it can use to commission and provide better healthcare, particularly within high risk groups. As a result of this work, five priority areas have been identified:

• Alcohol harm
• Family obesity
• Infant mortality
• Mental health
• Smoking.

So far the programme’s success has included the launch of a Patient Experience Tracker, an electronic device which allows patients to record their experience. A Household Panel comprising 1,700 members has been set up that can be consulted on a range of health related issues, and a community engagement database is being built to ensure that all patient and public involvement activities are captured and shared across the trust.

The programme has also started to use social marketing to improve communications and help influence and promote behavioural change, particularly among high risk groups.