Our first In Conversation Webinar brings together ENRICH Scotland’s Co-Chair, Professor Susan Shenkin, Clinical Studies Officer, Bernie McInally, and Care Home Manager, Shona MacDonald. Listen to a discussion of the Data Sharing Partnership Project, and the potential of improved data linkage between care homes and healthcare providers to enhance resident care.

The Data Sharing Partnership Project

The Data Sharing Partnership is a research project that aims to understand how researchers can use data (information) to see as complete a picture of care home residents as possible. At the moment, information is held separately in the care home, and in a resident’s healthcare record: in their GP surgery, or in hospital notes. If researchers can work out how best to share this information, then in future we can work out ways to share this for people working in health and social care, to provide the best care for care home residents. This project worked with three care home providers to find the best way to safely and securely share information between the care home and a secure space in the NHS.

To read the Dementia Researcher blog Bernie references (and authored!) visit:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-dementia-research-in-rural-areas/

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Professor Susan Shenkin Co-Chair of ENRICHScotland

Susan is a clinical academic geriatrician at the University ofEdinburgh and NHS Lothian. She joined Emma Law as co-chair in 2019, and they have worked together as part of the interdisciplinary team to build the infrastructure of ENRICH and to secure funding from the Chief Scientist Office. Susan also co-chairs the Lothian CHIP (Care Home Innovation Partnership) and is a strong advocate for working across and between disciplines to promote research to understand and improve the care for care home residents, their families and those who care for them.

Bernie McInally ENRICH Scotland’s Clinical StudiesOfficer for Lothian, Borders, Ayrshire & Arran.

Bernie has been a CSO with the Neuroprogressive Network since 2010 and ENRICH since 2021. Previously he was a Community Psychiatric Nurse for older adults for over 20 years. He set up nurse-led clinics in the Scottish Borders, specialising in Dementia/Alzheimer’s early/differentialdiagnosis.

Shona MacDonald, Care home manager Braeburn Home in Edinburgh.

Shona is a qualified nurse and went straight into care home nursing over 13 years ago. She is a passionate advocate for looking after residents, particularly including those with dementia and the end of life, as well as their families, and the dedicated staff. She also loves making sure that the home looks after their families and friends and the dedicated staff too. Shona says “I love working at Braeburn, it's small and very much our resident’s home. I am so proud of the staff and the amazing job they do each and every day!”.

About ENRICH Scotland

Improving the lives and health of people livingin care homes is a major priority, but care home residents are generally underrepresented in research studies. Enabling Research in Care Homes (ENRICH) Scotland aims to change this by strengthening support for research outside the NHS. The network brings together care home staff, residents and researchers to facilitate the design and delivery of research, to improve the quality of life, treatments and care forall residents. ENRICH Scotland works closely with NHS Research Scotland's Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network, the Ageing Specialty Group and the Primary CareNetwork, and is co-chaired by Dr Emma Law and Professor Susan Shenkin. The Enrich Scotland Forum works collaboratively with National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) ENRICH (the forum that covers research in England and Wales) making this uniquely fit for Scottish care homes. ENRICH Scotland’s Patient & Public Involvement group, Rich Voices, is actively shaping care home research. Learn more at: https://edin.ac/4euqRze