Search Results

Mental Health Hub We have focused on addressing areas of mental ill health linked to our deprived rural and coastal communities: neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g. attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), treatment resistant anxiety-depression, addiction (alcohol and gambling); as well as supporting front line workers (addressing knowledge gaps in paramedics, social prescribing framework for link workers). Building on our prior work we have: Increased involvement of public and people affected by mental health issues in mental health research. For example, we now have in excess of 300 public contributors per year who have joined our gambling research database via our digital tool and have established a gambling Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) that has already contributed substantially to grant applications and informing service improvements. Increased our joint working with our Mental Health Public Advisor, into multiple extension research projects and regional grant submissions, contributing to a successful application for NIHR Advanced Fellowship and application to ARC competition. Expanded PPIE activities via our partnership with Raising Voices in Research (RViR). For example, an innovative scheme has matched voluntary and charity organisations with researchers, covering marginalised groups such as older adults, military veterans, men with mental health conditions, and young neurodiverse people. Discovered new important findings for treatment of ADHD; notably the finding (paper submitted) that ADHD with co-morbid autism responds preferentially to a particular type of medication (atomoxetine). Secured additional funding to sustain research in areas of focus. For example, the AUD in Older Adults project has led to a Leverhulme/British Academy research grant (“Alcohol Research? No thanks”), a University of Southampton seed award (“Our Voice Matters: Older People, Stigma & Alcohol”), and Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT-4) grant (“Evaluation of VCia’s Capital Card Scheme”). In addition, secured three UKRI rapid evidence review grants, and a Partnership grant, for research into gambling-related harms. Our research projects Developing Pathways for older adults who are also drinking at increased-risk levels Older adults Alcohol Pathway (OAP) Read more Gambling and Alcohol Use Addiction in Military Veterans Read more Comparative Effectiveness of Methylphenidate vs. Second‑ and Third‑Line Medications for Children with Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Read more Social Prescribing Link Workers framework: supporting complex needs of adults living with physical and mental health long term conditions Read more Identifying the knowledge gaps of paramedics managing patients with mental health issues Read more ADOPTED: Gambling in the UK: An analysis of data from individuals seeking treatment at the NHS Southern Gambling Service Read more COMPLETED: Understanding psychosocial determinants of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in older adults: exploring the role of social networks and loneliness in living with AUD (OLA study 2). Read more COMPLETED: Development of a core outcome set for nurse wellbeing: a Delphi study Read more COMPLETED: Work lives and Wellbeing of Mental Health Nursing Workforce Read more COMPLETED: Understanding, addressing, and meeting the complex needs of people living with long term physical and mental health conditions: a qualitative study Read more Pharmacological And Non-Pharmacological treatment of ADHD in Pre-schoolers: a systematic review and network meta-analysis: the PANPAP study Read more Adolescent Resilience to OVercome Adversity: EmpoweRment and intervention development – the ROVER study Read more COMPLETED: Mental health Burden of Increased Living costs: Local Support (My BILLS) Read more COMPLETED: Understanding the psychosocial needs and trajectories of older adults (>64 years) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) from hospital back into community Read more Mental health projects

Impact Since ARC Wessex began in October 2019 it has focussed on the tackling the health and care challenges of our communities and beyond. In addition to our four research themes, ARC Wessex has developed a Mental Health Hub and secured funding to look at the challenges and needs of our social care systems. We also lead 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

Who are we? Professor Catherine Bowen Co-director April 2026-2031 Professor Michael Boniface Co-director April 2026-2031 Professor Alison Richardson Director 2019- March 31 ,2026 Our theme leads Dr Stephen Lim Ageing and Dementia Theme Lead Professor Nisreen Alwan Healthy Communities Theme Lead Professor Mari-Carmen Portillo Long Term Conditions Theme Lead Professor Michael Boniface Workforce & Health Systems Theme Lead Our central teams Philippa Darnton Implementation Lead Dr Michelle Myall Principal research and implementation fellow Dr Corine Driessens Principal Research Fellow (Statistics) Richard Trowbridge Chief Operating Officer Professor Catherine Bowen Academic Career Development Lead Ngianga II Kandala Principal Medical Statistician Rachael Hartup Senior Programme Manager Dr Kinda Ibrahim Academic Career Development Associate Lead Jamie Stevenson Communications and Partnership Manager Annemarie Hankinson Lead for Patient and Public Involvement

About us This National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration works across the Wessex region in the South of England. It is funded to work from April 2026 until April 2031, and will cover Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, as well as Wiltshire. The NIHR ARC Wessex is led by Professors Catherine Bowen and Michael Boniface both based at the Univerisity of Southampton. The organisation is part of a network of 11 Applied Research Collaborations that cover England, and we work closely with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. We are a genuine collaboration of Universities, NHS Trusts, Local Councils, the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations, and Industry partners. We work together to address real-world health and care challenges across the region and nationally through high-quality applied research. Our work leads to evidence that informs practice, improves patient care, and shapes policy. We work together with public contributors and our communities in everything we do. About us Our mission NIHR is committed to funding health, public health and social care research that leads to improved outcomes for patients and the public, and makes the health and social care system more efficient, effective and safe. We work closely with stakeholders across the system to ensure we address the challenges they face and are responsive to their research needs. National Institute for Health and Care Research Our mission Our collaboration Our collaboration Each NIHR ARC is made up of local providers of NHS services, local providers of care services, NHS commissioners, local authorities, universities, private companies and charities. These collaborations work together to conduct high quality, generalisable, applied health and care research that addresses the specific health or care issues in their region. NIHR ARCs act to increase the rate at which research findings are implemented into practice. The 11 ARCs work collaboratively to address national research priorities, with individual ARCs providing national leadership in their areas of expertise. Prior to April 2026 NIHR ARC Wessex ran from October 2019 until March 2026 - Link to this ARC Website From April 2014 until October 2019 the organisation was called NIHR CLAHRC Wessex. Contact Southampton Science Park, Innovation Centre, 2 Venture Road, Chilworth, Southampton SO16 7NP 023 8059 7983 arcwessex@soton.ac.uk First Name Last Name Email Message Thanks for getting in touch Send

Growing social care research capacity Professor Lee-Ann Fenge Social Care lead Social care touches every family in Britain, yet there is a paucity of social care research and historically limited access to the research infrastructure that shapes NHS and social care practice. The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Wessex Social Care Programme was created to change this. Our overarching aim was to build the skills, confidence and partnerships that allow social-care staff, carers and local organisations to use research to improve people’s lives. Working with local authorities, voluntary groups and unpaid carers across Wessex, the programme supports the DHSC vision for a fairer, more integrated system that helps people to live well at home for longer. Research champions funded within three local authorities (BCP, Dorset and Portsmouth City Council) and with voluntary sector organisations including MYTIME , and Help and Care have supported a culture of research engagement across the workforce in these organisations, including through facilitation of journal clubs, joint publications with academics and involvement in research projects. Adults Services within BCP Council have now adopted the research champion model across all of their adults teams as part of their workforce development strategy. Driving Improvement in Services and Local Policy · The programme’s practical studies have directly improved service; from staff training on inclusive communication to the redesign of community engagement and recruitment practices. Co-produced publications in leading social-work journals and presentations to professional conferences are spreading these lessons nationally. We have also contributed to national ARC Social Care events to share learning. Building Skills and Confidence in the Workforce - More than 40 social care professionals have received structured research training through internships, fellowships and the new REAL (Research, Evaluation, Audit and Literature) Course co-designed with Hampshire County Council, and participants are already leading improvement projects - evaluating recruitment practices, developing databases of community activities and strengthening induction and mentoring for new staff. Feedback shows greater confidence, better use of evidence in daily decision-making and stronger retention through professional pride. Joint projects between universities and councils have changed how services are planned and delivered for example: Day Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities research informed Hampshire County Council’s strategic plan. In Portsmouth the Single-Handed Care Review enabled efficiency savings while maintaining safety and quality. Research Champions and a Researcher in Residence worked with voluntary organisations including Help and Care and MYTIME to explore the needs of unpaid carers, including young carers and those supporting a loved one waiting for a dementia diagnosis known as the Waiting Well Project which included an exhibition at Poole Arts Centre in January -February 2026 highlighting the challenges carers face. Our Post-Doctoral Fellows Dr Andy Pulman Bournemouth University Dr Natalie Djohari Bournemouth University Dr Amy Drahota University of Portsmouth Dr Michelle Myall University of Southampton Dr Rachel Harrison University of Winchester ARC Wessex and CRN Wessex pulled together to expand research into social care. Four researchers were funded to work with local councils in Dorset, Portsmouth, Southampton and Hampshire. Senior Research Fellow Doctor Michelle Myall was named researcher-in-residence at Southampton City Council. Amy Drahota worked with Portsmouth City Council, Andy Pulman with Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Council and Dorset Council and Rachel Harrison with Hampshire County Council. The researchers came from the Universities in Southampton, Bournemouth, Winchester and Portsmouth. Research projects included issues like domestic abuse and social care workforce capacity. Funding also supported development of Research Champions within councils to work with the four research leads. The social care research champions were existing employees from the councils concerned. The specific focus of the role differed by the individual council and its needs. There was opportunity for learning for all involved, to understand more about what support is needed to enable growth in social care research. Publications from this work: Pulman, A. and Fenge, L.A. 2024. The Evolving Workplace: The Possible Impacts of Hybrid Working and Hotdesking on Retention of Social Workers. The British Journal of Social Work. Volume 54, Issue 8. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcae120 Pulman, A., Fenge, L.A., Mazarura, P. and Sanis, N. 2024. Struggling with studying and earning – realities of the UK's cost-of-living crisis on students on social work programmes. Research in Post-Compulsory Education (co-writing with research champions Trsih and Neil) https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2024.2403825 Pulman, A., Sloan, H. and Fenge, L.A. 2024 (in press). Advocacy in Practice: Who Advocates for the Advocates? Practice - Social Work in Action. (co-writing with PPIE strategy group representative Helen) https://doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2024.2410851 Pulman, A. and Fenge, L.A., 2024. Impacts of Workplace Stress on the Retention of Social Workers: A Qualitative Study. Practice - Social Work in Action. https://doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2024.2429085 May 15, 2025, 12:00 Dr Rachel Harrison - Empowering Voices: How Research Can Enhance Lives for People with Learning Disabilities | More June 19, 2025, 12:00 Helen Sloan - Person centred approaches, advocacy and community engagement in research and social care | More July 17, 2025, 12:00 Dr Andy Pulman - Developing carer research capacity in Wessex September 18, 2025, 12:00 Dr Natalie Djohari - Capacity Building in Career Research If you missed an online seminar see below for the recordings Social Care Lunchtime Seminars Social Care Lunchtime Seminars Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Search videos Search video... Now Playing Social Care lunchtime seminar #15 Recruitment and retention on Adult Social Care 55:38 Play Video Now Playing Social Care lunchtime seminar #14 38:45 Play Video Now Playing Social Care lunchtime seminar #13_Internships 39:33 Play Video Now Playing Social Care lunchtime Seminar 19 9 25 - Rachel Harrison 53:44 Play Video Seminar presentation Presenters Seminar Zoom links Seminar 2 - Andy Pullman Download PowerPoints Set one - Practitioner data Set two - HEI data summar Set three - Methodology Speakers Professor Lee-ann Fenge - Professor of Social Care in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University and CRN and ARC Wessex lead on Social Care Dr Andy Pullman - ARC Wessex Post Doctoral Fellow - Bournemouth University Here's how to join Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84574755038?pwd=dHZ4RHNSMmpIQlNLNW41cnptUzZ3Zz09 Meeting ID: 845 7475 5038 Passcode: 058408 Our research projects COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Building Bridges: Elevating Research Culture in Social Care through Collaboration, Qualitative Insight and Relationship-Driven Impact Read more ADOPTED: FLOWS Planning for Frailty: Optimal Health and Social Care Workforce Organisation Using Demand-led Simulation Modelling Read more SOCIAL CARE: Evaluation of Southampton City Council’s Male Engagement Worker (MEW) Project Read more COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Building capacity in social care through co-produced research and a research learning partnership between University of Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council Read more COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Local Authority Adult Social Care Recruitment and Retention research project (BCP/Dorset) Read more Dorset projecr

Ageing & Dementia The Ageing and Dementia theme has undertaken a broad portfolio of research aimed at improving the health, care, and quality of life of older adults and people living with dementia across Wessex and beyond. The theme was led by Stephen Lim with Dr Kinda Ibrahim as deputy theme lead Our work spans the development and evaluation of novel interventions, as well as the use of routinely collected data to understand how healthcare services can be organised more efficiently and deliver higher‑quality care. Through the Neuro Digital and Neuro Online studies, we have generated new insights into the factors that influence engagement with digital health technologies among people living with neurological conditions and dementia. This work is helping to shape more inclusive and accessible digital health solutions. We have also delivered innovative interventions that mobilise volunteers to support older adults in both community and hospital settings, helping them remain active and prevent functional decline. The ImPACt study successfully implemented an online intervention across seven community clubs in Hampshire and Dorset, which has since been adopted as routine practice by Brendoncare community clubs. The PIVOT study demonstrated the feasibility of volunteer‑led physical activity programmes across three NHS trusts in England, and plans are underway to secure further funding to expand this model nationally. The IDA study strengthened partnerships with NHS trusts and third‑sector organisations to disseminate the Active Lives digital intervention, designed to support older adults in increasing their physical activity. Through collaboration with six NHS trusts and four third‑sector organisations across the South of England, Active Lives reached 5,002 older adults, significantly extending its impact. Through the STOP-DEM project, we generated new evidence on how deprescribing can be undertaken safely and acceptably, with meaningful involvement of patients and carers. The findings have influenced clinical education, professional practice, and policy discussions locally and nationally. Research outputs have been embedded into undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare teaching through a co-produced short film, reached frontline clinicians through NHS and Royal College events, and informed national conversations on medicines optimisation via policy briefings and parliamentary roundtables. Widespread media coverage has further raised public and professional awareness of deprescribing in dementia. Research projects ARC Wessex programme of research on Medicines Optimisation (MODIFY SPiDeR STOP-DEM) Read more Refinement of an eFalls tool - a multivariable prediction model for the risk of ED attendance or in-hospital fall or fracture in individuals accessing mental health or learning disability services - eFalls Read more ADOPTED: Understanding how and why live-in care packages are arranged and sustained, when dementia is the primary support need: A mixed methods study. Read more Developing Pathways for older adults who are also drinking at increased-risk levels Older adults Alcohol Pathway (OAP) Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Neuro LTC: Assessing Baseline Factors, Critical Events and Fatigue in Long Term Neurological Conditions Read more EnTech (Enabling Technology): Investigating the enabling and inhibiting factors to the use of internet-based support tools for caregivers of people with dementia, and how to promote engagement. Read more The feasibility and acceptability of a collaborative deprescribing intervention to reduce anticholinergic burden among hospitalised older patients. Digital Anticholinergic Reduction Tool (DART) Read more Understanding the Networks, Effects and Teams involved in Community Alternatives to ACute Hospitalisation for Older People in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Region – CAtCH-NET Read more ADOPTED: Mobility assessments in hospitalised older adults: study protocol for an e-survey of UK healthcare professionals Read more ADOPTED: An observational longitudinal cohort study to investigate Cortical Disarray Measurement in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (CONGA) Read more ADOPTED: (SIFT) Sensors in Fatigue Tracking in Parkinson’s. Exploring the relationship between perception of Fatigue and the performance of physical activities in people with Parkinson's with fatigue using wearable sensors Read more COMPLETED: Development, evaluation and provision of an intervention for primary and community NHS staff to help carers and homecare workers supporting people living at home with dementia with their continence. Read more ADOPTED: FLOWS Planning for Frailty: Optimal Health and Social Care Workforce Organisation Using Demand-led Simulation Modelling Read more PIVOT: Promoting Increased physical actiVity in hospitalised Older adults with Trained volunteers Read more ADOPTED: SPLENDID Social Prescribing for people to Live ENjoyably with Dementia/memory problems In Daily life Read more ADOPTED: Community Alternatives to aCute Hospitalisation for Older People who have Fallen (CAtCH-Falls) Read more COMPLETED: Wessex Frail2Fit – A feasibility and acceptability study of a virtual multi-modal intervention delivered by volunteers to improve functional outcomes of older adults with COVID-19 discharged from hospital Read more COMPLETED: Developing training for person-centred care: adapting the Chat & Plan for use in domiciliary care Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Geospatial mapping of emergency calls from older adults to ambulance services in the South Central region, with a focus on people living with dementia: a feasibility study. Read more COMPLETED: Understanding psychosocial determinants of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in older adults: exploring the role of social networks and loneliness in living with AUD (OLA study 2). Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Optimising Outpatients: Effective service transformation through face-to-face, remote and digital care delivery. Read more COMPLETED: Development of a structured deprescribing intervention for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment in primary care (STOP-DEM) Read more COMPLETED: Development, evaluation and provision of an intervention for primary and community NHS staff to help carers and homecare workers supporting people living at home with dementia with their continence. Read more ADOPTED: Incidental Interaction: Novel Technology to Support Elders-as-Athletes through Augmenting Everyday Interactions Read more Wessex NHS Insights Prioritisation Programme Project (NIPP) Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED: Investigating Quality of Care for People with Dementia Undergoing Cancer Treatment in Ambulatory Care (ImPaCT) Read more COMPLETED: Creating Learning Environments for Compassionate Care (CLECC) in mental health settings: an implementation study Read more COMPLETED: Promoting person-centred care using the CHAT&PLAN conversation guide Read more COMPLETED: INVOLVing pEople with cognitive impaiRment in decisions about their hospital nursing care (INVOLVER): a pilot study Read more COMPLETED: Neuro Digital: From Attitudes to Strategies Read more COMPLETED: Neuro Online (Formerly From Clinic to E-Clinic): Evaluating the Implementation of the My Medical Record Platform in Young-Onset Dementia and Huntington’s Disease. Read more COMPLETED: IDA: Implementing a Digital physical Activity intervention for older adults Read more COMPLETED: The ImPACt study - Improving physical activity of older people in the community Read more COMPLETED: CLECC Toolkit and background: Creating Learning Environments for Compassionate Care (CLECC) Read more COMPLETED: StOP UTI project: Strategies in older people's care settings to prevent infection Read more COMPLETED: Understanding the psychosocial needs and trajectories of older adults (>64 years) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) from hospital back into community Read more The PD Life Study: Exploring the treatment burden and capacity of people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers Read more DIALOR: DIgitAL cOaching for fRailty (DIALOR) Read more COMPLETED: Material Citizenship Framework Project Read more Mental health hub projects Understanding the psychosocial needs and trajectories of older adults (>64 years) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) from hospital back into community Read more Publications Read our publications here. Read more

Long Term Conditions Long Term Conditions Theme The Long Term Conditions (LTC) Theme, led by Professor Mari Carmen Portillo with Deputy Lead Dr Dorit Kunkel, delivers a broad programme of research and implementation designed to improve the lives of people living with long‑term conditions and multiple long‑term conditions. The theme’s work spans deprescribing, medicines optimisation, treatment burden, physical activity, service improvement, co‑production, and person‑centred care. A major area of impact is medication deprescribing and optimisation. The MODIFY project has significantly enhanced safety and quality of life for frail older adults by adopting a structured, multidisciplinary approach to medication reviews. It supports clinicians through training, tools, and collaborative working models, and is now embedded within wider system initiatives such as the Wessex Health Innovation Network’s Polypharmacy Action Learning Sets. Public engagement activities—including creative outputs like a deprescribing song—have helped raise awareness and encouraged culture change in medicines optimisation. Further medicines‑related research has identified ongoing risks related to inappropriate prescribing of anti-inflammatory painkillers for older adults and those with conditions such as kidney or heart disease. A GP‑focused risk‑identification tool was developed to address this. Another study highlighted that many people on disease‑modifying drugs undergo high‑frequency monitoring despite long‑term normal results, suggesting opportunities to reduce unnecessary burden and NHS workload. The Treatment Burden Study, involving more than 800 Dorset adults, showed that high burden is common and often driven by lifestyle challenges, appointment access, financial pressure, and complex medication regimens. Its follow‑on project, SPELL, produced short, practical measures for clinical use. The findings also informed improvements for Care Coordinators in Southampton, enabling them to better identify and support individuals struggling with their conditions while reducing demand on GP time. The theme has also optimised community‑based support systems, developing a Link Worker framework for social prescribing and piloting the LifeBoost app to guide people with LTCs to personalised resources. The European Optim Park project expanded access to Parkinson’s support via the REPISALUD directory, now used internationally. Policy influence is another key outcome. Research on COVID‑19, physical activity, and mental health has shaped recommendations adopted by bodies including Sweden's Health Technology Assessment Agency and the European Commission. Findings from Optim Park have informed NICE guideline NG252. Additional impacts include shaping national and international understanding of Huntington’s disease care needs, advancing person‑centred assessment tools such as the Living with Long Term Conditions Scale, and contributing to workforce development through the Wessex Academy of Skills in Personalised Care, which has trained more than 1,500 professionals. Finally, work on physical activity maintenance has expanded understanding of the barriers and enablers affecting digital health engagement among NHS staff, strengthening regional partnerships. Research projects ARC Wessex programme of research on Medicines Optimisation (MODIFY SPiDeR STOP-DEM) Read more ADOPTED: Personalised social and self-management support for better living with multiple long-term conditions in the community (CO-ACTION) Read more Social Prescribing Link Workers framework: supporting complex needs of adults living with physical and mental health long term conditions Read more Evaluating impact of personalised care at service at service and system levels: Learning from the Wessex Academy for Skills in Personalised Care (WASP) programme. Read more Understanding barriers and enablers of using the Living with Long Term Conditions scale as part of routine care for people from under-served groups living with type 2 diabetes Read more PARTNERS II: Testing implementation and evaluation of a digital tool for multisectoral support and management of people living with Parkinson’s disease and/or arthritis. Read more Avoiding care escalations through targeted care coordination for people with multiple long-term conditions – a knowledge mobilisation project Read more Deprescribing and Optimisation of Medicines IN Older people with Heart Failure and Frailty (DOMINO-HFF) Read more COMPLETED: Change in treatment burden among people with multimorbidity: Protocol of a follow up survey and development of efficient measurement tools for primary care Read more ADOPTED: Treatment burden in people below the age of 65 with multimorbidity in primary care: A mixed methods (SPELL) Read more ADOPTED: (SIFT) Sensors in Fatigue Tracking in Parkinson’s. Exploring the relationship between perception of Fatigue and the performance of physical activities in people with Parkinson's with fatigue using wearable sensors Read more Reframing responsibility through public empowerment: examining environmental cues influencing poor diet Read more COMPLETED: Non-digital support for maintaining physical activity in people with long-term conditions – within Maintenance Of physical acTivity beHaviour (MOTH) programme Read more COMPLETED: Digital support for maintaining physical activity in people with long-term conditions Read more COMPLETED: Development of policy recommendations to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity and mental health in individuals with multimorbidity: a mixed method study. Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Understanding risk stratification of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Development of a decision aid for offloading device selection for people with diabetic foot ulceratio Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Breast Cancer Choices: Evaluation and implementation of a digital patient-centred decision aid to support genetic testing in mainstream care. Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Multidisciplinary Ecosystem to study Lifecourse Determinants and Prevention of Early-onset Burdensome Multimorbidity (MELD-B) Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: MELD Read more POST DOCTORAL PROJECT: Understanding, addressing, and meeting the complex needs of people living with long term physical and mental health conditions: a qualitative study Read more COMPLETED: Testing the living with chronic illness scale Read more COMPLETED: Medicines optimisation Read more Interventions to support physical activity for adults (MOTH) Read more MODIFY: The development and iMplementation Of a multidisciplinary medication review and Deprescribing Intervention among Frail older people in primarY care Read more COMPLETED: PARTNERS Project: Development and implementation of a digital tool for multisectoral support and management of long-term condition Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: EnablExercise in Crohns: A qualitativE study to uNderstAnd the Barriers and faciLitators to physical activity and Exercise IN children and adolescents with CROHN’S disease Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: ExACT-CF: Exercise as an Airway Clearance Technique in people with Cystic Fibrosis – A randomised pilot trial Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Happier Feet Read more COMPLETED: OPTIM Park - Optimization of community resources and systems of support to enhance the process of living with Parkinson’s Disease: a multisectoral intervention Read more Improving support for self-management (WASP) Read more Mental health hub projects Understanding, addressing, and meeting the complex needs of people living with long term physical and mental health conditions: a qualitative study Read more Role of patient-assessed functioning as a predictor of health service use in patients with long term mental health conditions Read more Read our publications here Read more Publications Collaborative project: Improving review appointments for people with long-term conditions

COVID-19 projects We have been responding to the call from the National Institute for Health Research and the Department of Health and Social Care to rapidly respond to the demand for evidence and support for the NHS and care settings during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ARC Wessex Central team has been called in to support the NHS Nightingale Hospital and we are working with other ARCs and specialists. Professor Peter Griffiths is leading a team on Workforce and Staffing. This page lists the ARC Wessex Covid-19 research projects underway, and is updated when new projects come online. #staysafe Our research projects COMPLETED: Symptoms, Trajectory, Inequalities and Management: Understanding Long-COVID to Address and Transform Existing Integrated Care Pathways (STIMULATE) Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Supported remote rehabilitation post Covid-19 Read more COMPLETED: Development of policy recommendations to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity and mental health in individuals with multimorbidity: a mixed method study. Read more COMPLETED: Predicting Patient Deterioration Risks in COMMunities Read more COMPLETED: How to Support children with cancer, or another serious condition, and their parents during the COVID-19 outbreak Read more COMPLETED: Developing a web resource to support families bereaved during COVID-19 Read more COMPLETED: GOODNIGHT Covid-19 to care-home-based vulnerable individuals Read more COMPLETED: COVID-19 Emergency Department Project Read more

Workforce & Health Systems Theme lead Professor Michael Boniface Theme lead Deputy theme leads Dr Dan Burns Health Systems Dr Chiara Dall'ora Workforce Workforce & Health Systems Theme We know that the health workforce are an asset and in short supply. As part of our ARC research we are planning a series of studies. We will look at the best ways for staff to work - for example where and when. We also want to improve conditions - in part by ensuring they have time to do the jobs we are asking them to do. Cultivating a flow of pioneering ideas that offer the potential to transform people's lives and the economy using information technology is a motivating force that drives us. Our capacity to rapidly turn these ideas into benefits for partners through collaborative, applied research and innovation makes Southampton a truly exciting place to be. Research projects ADOPTED ActMed-VW - Healthcare professional's experiences of Access to Medication for people on Virtual Wards who are in their last year of life Read more ADOPTED PROJECT - PREMAC 2 STUDY Development and application of Patient Report Experience Measure for patients accessing ACute oncology services: Read more Implementation and Evaluation of the Advanced Practice Research Toolkit Read more Adopted Project: Paramedic delivery of end-of-life care (PARAID) Study Read more PROCED-DST: PROactive, Collaborative and Efficient complex Discharge – Decision Support Tool Read more FORTH – FORecasting Turbulence in Hospitals Read more Predicting nurse staffing requirements -validation and scoping extension study (PREDICT-NURSE validation and extension) Read more Identifying the knowledge gaps of paramedics managing patients with mental health issues Read more Wessex SNSDE Study (SETT Centre) Read more ADOPTED (PhD): PREPARE-to-ACT study: Preparing for and Responding to Emergencies – A multi-phased qualitative investigation of Patients’ And members of their RElational networks’ decisions to use urgent and emergency care during Anti-Cancer Treatment Read more PUNDIT – Predicting hospital Usage Numbers via a DIgital Twin Read more ADOPTED: A Study to Evaluate the Introduction of new Staffing Models in Intensive Care: a Realist evaluation (SEISMIC-R) Read more COMPLETED: PREDICT-NURSE – feasibility: Predicting Patient Acuity/Dependency-Based Workload from Routinely Collected Data to Assist with Nursing Staff Planning – feasibility study Read more ADOPTED: Nurture-U (Southampton): A longitudinal survey for student metal health and wellbeing Read more ADOPTED: FLOWS Planning for Frailty: Optimal Health and Social Care Workforce Organisation Using Demand-led Simulation Modelling Read more ADOPTED: SORT-IT (Salisbury Operational Research Track – Improving Together) Read more Workforce Evaluation Toolkit project (WET) Read more ADOPTED: Social Prescribers In Deprescribing Role (SPiDeR) Read more ADOPTED: Improving patient safety, workforce wellbeing and NHS efficiency through improved shift patterns for nursing staff: study protocol Read more PARIEDA - Prediction of Acute Respiratory Infection outcomes prior to Emergency Department Attendance Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Geospatial mapping of emergency calls from older adults to ambulance services in the South Central region, with a focus on people living with dementia: a feasibility study. Read more COMPLETED: Predicting Patient Deterioration Risks in COMMunities Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Developing and testing a Patient Report Experience Measure for patients accessing Acute OnCology services: The PREMAC study Read more ADOPTED: Consequences, costs and cost-effectiveness of different workforce configurations in English acute hospitals: a longitudinal retrospective study using routinely collected data Read more COMPLETED POST DOCTORAL PROJECT: The career aspirations of nurses working in the research delivery workforce: a cross-sectional survey Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Magnet4Europe: Improving mental health and wellbeing in the health care workplace Read more PROCED: PROactive, Collaborative and Efficient complex Discharge Read more Mental Health, Workforce and Well-being Research Framework - ARC Collaboration Read more COMPLETED: Safer Nursing Care Tool and nurse staffing requirements Read more COMPLETED: Shift Pattern Feasibility Read more COMPLETED: Improving community health care planning Read more COMPLETED: CLECC Toolkit and background: Creating Learning Environments for Compassionate Care (CLECC) Read more COMPLETED: COVID-19 Emergency Department Project Read more Mental health hub projects Work lives and Wellbeing of Mental Health Nursing Workforce Read more Development of a core outcome set for mental health nurse wellbeing: a Delphi study Read more Read our publications here Read more Publications Access our evidence brief here Read more Evidence briefs Reports, toolkits and support Find the information and tools to improve your work here Read more

aeb3153c-5d74-4046-b64a-afed7e369f76 Understanding the Networks, Effects and Teams involved in Community Alternatives to ACute Hospitalisation for Older People in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Region – CAtCH-NET Chief Investigator: Dr Natalie Cox, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer Geriatric Medicine, Academic Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton Team: Dr Stephen Lim, Principal Clinical Research Fellow, Academic Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton & Honorary Consultant Geriatrician University Hospital Southampton NHS FT Dr Sara McKelvie, NIHR Clinical Lecturer Primary Care Research, Primary Care Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton Dr Carole Fogg, Senior Research Fellow, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton Start: 1 October 2024 End: 31 March 2026 Partners: Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Healthcare Foundation Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, University of Southampton Background In Southern England, there are more older people than in many other parts of the country. Many of them live with several health conditions that can suddenly get worse. When this happens, they often need quick help from healthcare professionals. Whenever possible, it’s better for people to get this care at home rather than going to hospital. This matches the government’s plan to move more healthcare from hospital to the community. To support this, urgent care services have been set up across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. These services aim to treat older people at home when they become unwell. But even with these services in place, many older people still go to hospital emergency departments. Some are sent home within 24 hours, which suggests they might have been safely treated at home instead. That’s why it’s important to understand how these urgent care services are working. Although they are close to each other, they are all set up differently. This research will look at the teams and networks of healthcare staff who help older people avoid hospital stays. We will interview people who work in these services and those who receive care from them. We’ll also study data from two local emergency departments to learn more about why some older people go to hospital and are sent home. By doing this, we hope to better understand how older people move through the urgent care system, and what helps or gets in the way of good care. We’ll also look at whether things like where someone lives, or whether they have a certain problem, affect their chances of going to hospital when it might not be needed. Our findings will help the NHS organisations design better urgent care services, so more older people can be safely cared for at home rather than in hospital. What have we found out? The analysis of the data is ongoing for CAtCH NET: We have data for UHS emergency department and have a cohort of 25,000 patients representing over 40,000 attendances. We are currently analyzing the data to understand the characteristics of these patients and factors related to discharge within 24 hours. We have completed interviews with staff who work within community urgent care services for older people, those who refer to them and those working closely with the emergency departments. Three main themes encompass the experiences of the participants: Complexity in urgent care service provision Complexity of work to avoid hospital admission Complexity of navigating an array of services and personnel What will we do with this new knowledge? We plan to create a report for the ICB and trust stakeholders. We will be working with HIW to conduct stakeholder meetings to discuss out findings and how they may inform ongoing service re-structuring. We have been conducting patient advisory groups meetings and have mapped their experiences to the findings of the qualitative data to aid in stakeholder discussions. We have also highlighted the study to a recent parliamentary call: 10.5258/SOTON/PP0162 10.5258/SOTON/PP0162

Healthy Communities Theme leads Professor Nisreen Alwan Theme lead Professor Dianna Smith Deputy theme lead Healthy Communities Theme The health of people across our communities faces a number of challenges from the start of someone’s life until the end – our research teams are addressing inequalities, diet, domestic violence and a wide range of issues that touch on everyone’s lives in particular those in more vulnerable and underserved populations. Next theme meeting: see events page or or contact: H.Down@soton.ac.uk for details Research projects ARC Wessex programme of research on Medicines Optimisation (MODIFY SPiDeR STOP-DEM) Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Exploratory research to examine the health impact of scams and fraud and the current knowledge and systems in the police and partner agencies for targeting and delivering victim support services Read more ADOPTED: DASA - Domestic abuse and housing: local authorities' provision of safe accommodation for adults living with disabilities and/or long-term/life-limiting illness: a mixed-methods study Read more ADOPTED: CEDA ‘Making the invisible visible’: identifying and responding to unpaid carers who experience domestic abuse from end-of-life care recipients Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Evaluating the Operation Encompass Scheme: A Qualitative Scoping Study Read more ADOPTED: IneQUIty in end of life care for children: Investigating experiences and families’ Needs after sudden and unexpecTEd deaTh in children and young people – the QUINTET study Read more Determining the effectiveness and outcomes of innovative interventions for people who have used stalking behaviours: An extension of the exploration of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Multi-Agency Stalking Partnership (MASP) Read more A qualitative case study to understand Young people’s food purchasing patterns in CONvenience stores in the school neighbourhood environment (Y-CON) Read more ENRICHER-C: Involvement in the criminal justice system & the impact on women's health in Dorset & Hampshire – Community comparison Read more Developing a core cohort of community researchers in Wessex: towards a sustainable Wessex Community of Practice for public health research co-production Read more COMPLETED: WADE. Women and Desistence Engagement : An evaluation of a community-based, conditional caution pilot programme for women in the criminal justice system Read more COMPLETED: Motivating and sustaining engagement of young people in improving their health and that of their communities Read more COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Building Bridges: Elevating Research Culture in Social Care through Collaboration, Qualitative Insight and Relationship-Driven Impact Read more ADOPTED: Investigating the impact of food vouchers on diet composition and the prevention of childhood obesity Read more ADOPTED: Community pharmacy alcohol-related liver disease risk identification and linkage to care through development of a complex intervention (CIP-LINC) Read more ADOPTED: Evaluation & Exploration of Multi-Agency Stalking Partnership Interventions Read more Qualitative Data Preservation and Sharing (Q-DaPS) Read more SOCIAL CARE: Evaluation of Southampton City Council’s Male Engagement Worker (MEW) Project Read more ADOPTED: Exploratory research to examine the health impact of scams and fraud and the current knowledge and systems in the police and partner agencies for targeting and delivering victim support services Read more COMPLETED: Co-POWeR - Consortium on Practices of Wellbeing and Resilience in BAME Families and Communities Read more COMPLETED: Testing the effects of food product placement on customers’ visual attention and intended product purchases: a randomised trial in a virtual supermarket setting (Phase II) Read more COMPLETED: Symptoms, Trajectory, Inequalities and Management: Understanding Long-COVID to Address and Transform Existing Integrated Care Pathways (STIMULATE) Read more ADOPTED: Mapping pathways of response for adult and child victim-survivors of domestic abuse in Southampton City Read more ENRICHER – involvEment iN the cRiminal justice system & the ImpaCt on women’s Health dorsEt & hampshiRe Read more CHAMPION: Children whose mothers are involved in the criminal justice system in Dorset & Hampshire: developing health and social care outcome indicators Read more COMPLETED: How to Support children with cancer, or another serious condition, and their parents during the COVID-19 outbreak Read more COMPLETED: Developing a web resource to support families bereaved during COVID-19 Read more COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Local Authority Adult Social Care Recruitment and Retention research project (BCP/Dorset) Read more COMPLETED: Mental health Burden of Increased Living costs: Local Support (My BILLS) Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Young people’s barriers to mental health services Read more POST DOCTORAL PROJECT: Early detection of chronic liver disease in community settings Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Comparing pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): systematic review and network meta-analysis Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: ADAPT: The cross-sector implementation of NICE-recommended CBT-based interventions for young people in care: Framework Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: DIGNIFIE Gender-seNsitive evaluatIon oF a prIson alternativE Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: High Harm Domestic Violence Perpetrator Pilot Evaluation Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: The Gateway Study a randomised controlled trial, economic and qualitative evaluation to examine the effectiveness of an out-of-court community-based Gateway intervention programme aimed at improving health and well-being for young adult offenders; victim satisfaction and reducing recidivism Read more COMPLETED: Social network facilitated engagement in people who are Homeless to address InEqualities in alcohol related Liver Disease - The SHIELD feasibility study Read more A national evaluation of Project Cautioning And Relationship Abuse (‘CARA’) awareness raising workshops for first time offenders of domestic violence and abuse Read more COMPLETED: Wessex DIET: Determining the Impact of covid-19 on food sEcurity in young families and Testing interventions Read more COMPLETED: Domestic Abuse and Life-Limiting Illness: identifying and supporting adults at risk (DALLI Study) Read more Prevention schemes for female vicitms and offenders in Hampshire and Dorset Read more COMPLETED: GOODNIGHT Covid-19 to care-home-based vulnerable individuals Read more The feasibility of community pharmacies testing for Hepatitis C in people who inject image and performance enhancing drugs Read more COMPLETED: Testing the effects of food product placement on customers’ visual attention and intended product purchases: a randomised trial in a virtual supermarket setting (Phase I) Read more COMPLETED: The Wessex FRIEND Toolbox (Family Risk IdEntificatioN and Decision) Read more Mental health hub projects Adolescent Resilience to OVercome Adversity: EmpoweRment and intervention development – the ROVER study Read more Pharmacological And Non-Pharmacological treatment of ADHD in Pre-schoolers: a systematic review and network meta-analysis: the PANPAP study Read more Read our publications here Read more Publications

Healthy Ageing, Dementia and Frailty National Priority Research Programme The research is focused on the health challenges facing our growing older population. The projects are as much about staying well and supporting people as finding better ways to care for and treat people with the many multi-morbidities that can develop in later life. Read about how Pat and Julia got involved in this impressive national research programme Read: Evidence and Policy recommendations - Strengthening Community Based Falls Prevention in England Falls among older adults in the UK are a major public health concern, with approximately one- third of people aged 65 and over experiencing a fall each year. Falls can result in severe injuries and contribute to increased health and social care costs, as well as disability and premature death. Despite strong evidence for falls prevention programmes, implementation across England remains inconsistent and fragmented. Linked to FLEXI project Download the report above of flick through it in the gallery to the right Strengthening Community-Based Falls Prevention in England_Page_1 Strengthening Community-Based Falls Prevention in England_Page_2 Strengthening Community-Based Falls Prevention in England_Page_8 Strengthening Community-Based Falls Prevention in England_Page_1 1/8 Our research projects WHELD: Training care home staff to improve well-being and mental health of dementia residents led by NIHR ARC Peninsula and working with NIHR ARC South London, NIHR ARC East Midlands, NIHR ARC East of England, NIHR ARC North East North Cumbria, NIHR ARC North West Coast and NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber Read more FinCH Implementation study: Falls prevention in care homes led by NIHR ARC East Midlands working with NIHR ARC North East North Cumbria, NIHR ARC West Midlands and NIHR ARC South London. Read more FLEXI: Falls management exercise programme led by NIHR ARC East Midlands working with NIHR ARC Greater Manchester and NIHR ARC South West Peninsula Read more Who is participating? NIHR ARC Greater Manchester NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber NIHR ARC South West Peninsula NIHR ARC East Midlands NIHR ARC West Midlands NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria NIHR ARC North West Coast NIHR ARC South London NIHR ARC East of England