NEWS agEWELL haS had an ImPact In mId & EaSt antrIm!


the much anticipated launch of the innovative ImPact agewell programme on 1 June packed a punch in terms of showcasing the achievements the local mid & East antrim agewell Partnership (mEaaP) team have had in securing a £1 million investment from dunhill medical trust to support older people in partnership with a wide range of agencies.


the launch not only featured a range of presentations on the ImPact agewell model, but also provided much food for thought using activities such as 'musical chairs' to showcase how hard it is to navigate a complex health and social care system for everyone, especially older people.


the issue of medications was again creatively highlighted using ‘pass the parcel’ in which boxes of medication had been labelled and filled with sweets, but also included a question commonly asked by older people - highlighting that often it is the simplest of things that can help older people overcome barriers in terms of being empowered to manage their own health conditions.


thanks to the funding support of the dunhill medical trust, mEaaP have developed six local health and wellbeing hubs, partnering with six gP practices, Pact community pharmacists and staff from the northern health & Social care trust.


these local hubs anticipate supporting more than 1,100 older people over the next three years to


The Project Design team: (l-r) Jean Haveron (MEAAP Chair); Jonathan Lloyd (PACT); Pat Smyth (HSCB); Anne Marie O’Boyle (ICP); Hugh Nelson (NHSCT); Stephen Slaine (ICP); Joanne Morgan (CDHN); Sarah Allport and Sue Kay (Dunhill Medical Trust) and Deirdre McCloskey (MEAAP Project Coordinator).


develop a personalised action plan which will set health-related goals, including connecting in with local community activities via social prescriptions.


at the event, mEaaP Project coordinator, deirdre mccloskey, explained how unique the initiative is.


‘mEaaP have been working hard over the last four years as part of our core ageing Well & reaching out Programme to empower communities and age champion volunteers to deliver a wide range of activities to support older people in our community,' she said.


‘We are delighted that the dunhill medical trust recognised the need to


allow mEaaP to invest over £300,000 of the funding awarded in local community/voluntary sector partnerships who will help us deliver a wide range of social prescriptions to the older people we aim to support – activities like luncheon clubs, walking groups, health condition support groups, arts/crafts etc – all of which are examples of care in the community, by the community.’


‘We’re very excited to see that a concept our trustees and staff have long supported seems to be the name on everyone’s lips,’ said Sue Kay, Executive director of the dunhill medical trust. ‘It’s looking as if ‘social prescribing’ is coming of age. but we know that because it’s fundamentally


about people and communities, one size very definitely doesn’t fit all. We also know that you wouldn’t prescribe drugs and expect a pharmacist to provide them for free. mEaaP’s people-centred, flexible approach and realistic and practical model meant that the decision to provide financial support was made very easy for us.’


StEPhEn bUrnS, baLLEE PharmacY, baLLYmEna ‘I thought that the format of this event was particularly relevant to the subject. In particular, the pass the parcel game was ingenious and clearly demonstrated to everyone present the dilemma and predicament in which older people find themselves when it comes to medication. this initiative provides an excellent opportunity for pharmacists, gPs and all strands of healthcare to work collaboratively for the benefit of our older patients.’


It was a full house at The Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena. 6 - PharmacY In focUS


The ‘pass the parcel’ game, which proved to be a real winner with attendees.


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