Impact
Since ARC Wessex began in October 2019 it focussed on the tackling the health and care challenges of our communities and beyond.
In addition to our four research themes, ARC Wessex developed a Mental Health Hub and secured funding to look at the challenges and needs of our social care systems. We also led on the National efforts to increase the number of researchers working on dementia (DEM-COM) and the Healthy Ageing, Dementia and Frailty National Priority Programme with collaborated with the ARC network across England.
Here we show examples of the impact of our completed research and the benefits to patients and the wider communities in Wessex.
Read ARC at 5 - The story so Far | here
Find out how our research has helped people at risk of food insecurity
During the Covid-19 outbreak hospital beds were under immense pressure learn about how we created a safe way to care for people at home
Many people take multiple medications as they age. Our research has helped safely reduce medications where they aren't needed.
Adult social care supports some of the most vulnerable people in society. We helped train social workers to use research to improve services.
Around 20% of people in the UK experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. Our research has helped test ways to reduce it.
There has been a sharp rise in 999 calls for those at end of life. Our researchers looked at how paramedics are coping with this pressure.
People at the end of life, through cancer or other illnesses can be vulnerable to abuse. Researchers created a tool to help spot the signs
Around 30,000 people are seriously injured and 1,700 are killed in road traffic collisions in England every year. Research could improve safety
Improving physical activity and lives in care homes
The ImPACT study looked to create and test the feasibility of using trained exercise volunteers in care home settings to increase the amount of physical activity for older people living there.
Are we making the right decisions on nursing numbers?
In England a general yardstick is used to work out the number of nursing staff needed to look after patients on a ward in hospital. Recent research has now updated NHS guidance with its findings
Online tool for Long Covid support
A website to support people living with Long Covid offers a symptom checker, advice on seeking support, and encourages people to talk about their symptoms with professionals, friends and family.
Clever help matches care and skills for district nurses
The complexity of managing a busy team of district nurses has been made simpler by using computer and mathematical modelling to schedule visits - and the system could go further.
Researchers test new ways to help tackle childhood obesity
In England, over a fifth of children aged 4–5 years were classed as overweight or obese in 2021/22. A team of ARC Wessex researchers has been testing a way to help families improve kids diets.
Helping older people get the right medicine
1 in 3 people aged 65 and older take 5 or more medicines every day. Some of these drugs may no longer be appropriate. We developed tools to help safely reduce medications where needed and review what people want from their medications.
Building research capacity in Wessex
100 +
10 +
£2M Invested
We have trained more than 100 health and care professionals to make their first steps into research
... more than 10 PhD students are making their next move in research
..and growing numbers of Post Doctorate researchers getting to grips with the issues that effect us all