Did Not Attend (DNA) Outreach Pilot

Annual Physical Health Checks for people with severe mental illness (SMI) can save lives. However, individuals often do not attend their appointments.

In partnership with the NHS Dorset and Primary Care Networks (PCNs), we are working to increase the number of health checks undertaken, and to better understand barriers to uptake.

The initial phase of the pilot with Central Bournemouth Primary Care Network used a person-centred approach and supportive conversations to:

• Encourage 30% of people engaged with to attend their health check.
• Identify barriers to missed or declined appointments (this information was shared with health services).
• Signpost or refer people to community support.

This built on previous work where we explored:

• SMI training offered to professionals and opportunities to co-design sessions with those with lived experience;
• Peer support offer available and how it could be linked to supporting people to “wait well”;
• VCS groups providing buddies or advocacy to support people reluctant or needing additional support to attend health checks;
• How people felt about their health check experience, to inform service development and training.

Our research found limited support available to those with severe mental ill health and their experiences with healthcare professionals often deterred them from attending health checks.

If you are a GP practice in Dorset and would like to be involved or get more information, please get in touch with Andrew.Robertson@can100.org