Keeping patients connected: an evaluation of the third sector and public sector partnership

Context: Health and Society Knowledge Exchange (HASKE) was jointly commissioned by Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service (Cumbria CVS) and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) to evaluate the third and public sector partnership that was implemented through the secondment of the Volunteer Coordinator to NCIC for the Keeping Patients Connected project. Methodology: An online survey was created to collect data from key individuals involved in the planning, coordination or delivery of the Keeping Patients Connected project. In total, five respondents completed the survey. Summary of Findings: • Key benefits of the Keeping Patients Connected project were reported to include: enhanced communication for patients; additional support for ward staff; and an increased understanding, for NCIC, of the value of implementing volunteering programmes in hospital settings. • The third and public sector partnership enabled NCIC and Cumbria CVS to draw on each other’s expertise, learn from one another and develop joint strategies for dealing with any issues that arose. Through this collaborative approach, the public sector was supported with managing and learning about the intricacies of recruiting volunteers in hospital settings.