Pilots to test health gains ‘marginalised’

The “fast changing” health policy agenda often marginalised pilot projects aimed at testing whether the Supporting People commissioning framework could benefit the physical and mental health of the community, according to a report.

The evaluation of the six pilot sites, which were launched in 2003 by the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, concluded that the Supporting People funding programme could be used to meet people’s health needs.

The pilots had success in developing initiatives such as support for young people with mental health and drug problems, and housing and health support for women wanting to leave the sex industry.

But the report said initiatives such as Agenda for Change, the new NHS pay system, prevented the pilots being prioritised within health agencies.

Staff within some primary care trusts did not appreciate the relationship between housing support and wellbeing, it added.