A simple text message was at the heart of a successful campaign to support people whose health condition makes them vulnerable to the impact of fuel poverty.
The scheme organisers report that it has saved patients a total of £114,000 in lower energy bills and other savings – around £260 for each 'client'.
The scheme, led by Health Innovation North West Coast, is part of an established programme to reduce the impact of fuel poverty on people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that can be exacerbated by living in a cold home.
This latest phase of the programme aimed to bridge the gap between clinical care and social support.
The Combined Intelligence for Population Health Action (CIPHA) dashboard firstly identified vulnerable patients living in Knowsley. Their GP surgery, a trusted source, then sent patients an SMS to tell them their health condition could make them eligible for support in keeping their homes warm and dry over winter.
The message contained a self-referral form to Energy Project Plus, a non-profit organisation dedicated to alleviating fuel poverty, while individuals without a mobile phone were contacted by letter to avoid digital exclusion.
Patients were offered a range of support, including boiler repair or replacement, emergency fuel vouchers, debt relief and repayment advice and support with access to cheaper, greener energy tariffs.
The message was sent to 3,060 COPD patients which prompted 510 self-referrals, a response rate of 17 per cent, much higher than the 10 per cent target. The response rate was also much higher than it would have been in a non-targeted campaign.
Hassan Argomandkhah, Clinical Director of Kirkby Primary Care Network, where the project was focused, said: “The idea is simple but very effective and it builds on the work the team has already done in supporting people in a very targeted way.
“Health Innovation North West Coast were again key to bringing people together to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community, and the work has had a measurable impact on their lives.”
Rhiannon Clarke, Senior Programme Manager at Health Innovation North West Coast, said the text message approach was effective because it was a clear and direct communication from a trusted source.
“This is a very practical example of population health in action, connecting health with the conditions people live in.
“By using trusted relationships, targeted data and strong partnerships, we’re able to reach people who might otherwise be missed and actually make a difference to their health and wellbeing at home.”
According to Asthma + Lung UK, the charity supporting people with lung conditions, the diagnosed prevalence of COPD in Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board area is 2.5 per cent, compared with the England average of 1.9 per cent.
Health Innovation North West Coast worked in partnership with NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Kirkby Primary Care Network and Energy Projects Plus.
You can read a summary of the text message project, created by project partner Graphnet, on our website.
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