The Making Waves project aims to spread the model developed within the original RIPPLE project to six other local health economies across the Midlands. We have developed a prototype based on a co-created theory of change, and Making Waves supports six sites to implement this model within their particular context. We’re evaluating how the project improves the health and wellbeing of patients with COPD, their self-efficacy and ability to self-manage and the impact of integrated support on individuals with long-term conditions, communities and the healthcare system.
This month RIPPLE went on the ROAD! A successful outing including a pub visit to add to the breathing group activities. A real achievement for many patients. Janelle Kingham, Chaplain and RIPPLE Administrator reports that "The Griffin, Nuneaton, have been very supportive of arranging a special area for us there as we were a fairly large group almost 40 of us. We brought RIPPLE on the road by spending time together, socialising and having food together. We even brought our quiz master to complete an authentic pub quiz experience. Patients have been really happy to go and to participate in another outing together."
There have been requests for exchange visits across sites and group organisers have kindly been invited by Janelle Kingham to visit the original Coventry group. Please email janelle.kingham@uhcw.nhs.uk
Talking of how the group came to be formed Dr Helen Ward, Respiratory Consultant at Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said: “We’re really pleased to be able to offer this new group in Wolverhampton, following the success of a similar ‘breathing group’ in Coventry. People who attended showed improvements in their wellbeing and felt less isolated". The new group has been made possible thanks to the joint efforts of the Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Compton Hospice, Wolves Community Trust, Age UK Wolverhampton and West Midlands Fire Service.
MAKING WAVES EVALUATION
The focused objectives for people with COPD are: Increased mental well-being, Improved ability to self-manage, Improved take up of low cost/ highly effective treatment e.g. smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, Emergence of a new model of service and Reduction in unplanned admissions.
YOUR FAQs
We will be pulling together a list of FAQs to help with hurdles or roadblocks! Let us know if there's anything you'd like added for the next e-news update or if you have a story to share about your site. The Making Waves evaluation and communications team can be contacted via Sophie Krumins, email sophie.krumins@coventry.ac.uk.
Making Waves is a Health Foundation spreading improvement programme that is being funded and delivered by the West Midlands Regional Respiratory Improvement programme. (Health Foundation is a charity working towards improving the quality of UK Healthcare).
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