The Royal Devon are very proud to be part of the winning Community Flow partnership that received the ‘using our money well’ award at the South West Integrated Personalised Care Awards. The awards recognise and highlight examples of best practice in delivering person-centred work in the region.

Community flow supports patients being discharged from the Royal Devon who are experiencing issues with housing, finances, loneliness, accessing community resources and aims to break the cycle of these factors impacting people’s health.

The initiative is delivered in partnership by the Royal Devon and Encompass South West and is part of the One Northern Devon (OND) Flow programme.

The ‘using our money well’ category highlights best practice in using NHS resources to achieve good outcomes for patients and the healthcare system. Community flow was shown to reduce re-admissions to hospital by 41% with a potential cost avoidance of £470,000.

Chris Tidman, Deputy Chief Executive of the Royal Devon: “This project shows it is possible to better meet patient needs and save NHS valuable resources by working differently, and in partnership to support people with their wider needs that impact their health. For every £1 the NHS invests in this work, there is a £3.45 return.

“The scheme highlights how much the wider issues in our lives can impact our health and wellbeing. By being able to help patients address these alongside their health needs we have seen a 41% reduction in unplanned admissions for those being supported.

He added, “Being part of the OND partnership has enabled us to work collaboratively with external partners, drawing on their expertise and community connections, to develop innovative solutions which have really benefitted our patients.”

Claire Fisher, CEO of Encompass Southwest said, “We are delighted to be recognised for our collaborative work with the Royal Devon and the community flow project. This is a great example of what can be achieved for patients when the voluntary sector and health work together to provide seamless support to patients across Northern Devon. 

“Awards like these would not be possible without the dedication of the flow team, their commitment to delivering person centred care which allows time to listen to patients and support them to access vital resources is paramount.”

The awards judges agreed that the work delivered by community flow is an outstanding example of personalised care in action, embracing the ‘What Matters to Me’ approach to tailor support for individuals. For those facing isolation, the project has been a lifeline, offering guidance, companionship, and solutions tailored to their specific circumstances.

Some of those supported by the project shared the impact it has had on their lives including easing feelings of overwhelm and providing vital direction in navigating services they wouldn’t have been able to access alone.