Abstract
The decision support tool is a proof of concept to showcase the added-value brought through resource mapping and investment tracking principles, with the goal of strengthening collaboration for public health.
It is accessible to organisations and sectors providing funding to support community-led public health interventions, including Central Government Departments, Health and Social Care Trusts, Local Councils, Charity and Funding organisations. Mapping of resources and investment tracking can help inform policymakers, public health leaders and agencies toward evidence-based decisions, improved health outcomes, and a more efficient public health system.
Developing the investment decision support tool included engagement with senior representatives from the health and social care sector, central and local government, community and voluntary sectors and academia. Emphasis was given to how the primary ‘end user’ of the support tool, could inform progress to maximise the potential for such a platform to benefit future provision of community-led public health interventions and enhance cross-sectorial collaboration.
The initial phase focused on building a shared understanding of the process used in geo-spatial mapping and the potential organisational benefits which can realised in terms of support for informed decision making; improved efficiency in allocation of resources, support for monitoring and coordination of implementation and enhanced collaboration.
A data collection and cleansing process was then undertaken across a range of organisations who provide funding to building capacity for community-led public health interventions. Investment data was aligned to the geographical level of District Electoral Area (DEA) which are sub-regions of Local Government Districts (LGD’s). The final data was then verified by each of the funding organisations before being collated and geographically mapped on a digital platform.
Brief information on each intervention within all DEA’s was included on the decision support tool providing an organisational overview of investments. Contextual information in the form of deprivation measures, including measures of social determinants, were added at a corresponding geographical level, providing insight in to the intervention area.
Verified and mapped investment data for the proof of concept phase of the decision support tool totalled more than £47 million, which supported over 850 interventions with information provided by 12 organisations. The collated information identified locations where investment in capacity building for community-led public health interventions may require further consideration, where the targeting of existing investments could be improved and opportunities to enhance collaboration across organisations.
Geo-spatial mapping principles, coupled with digital technology can provide significant improvements in the provision of public health interventions by enhancing our insight of the intervention and the people and place it is supporting, strengthening collaboration across organisations to maximise impact the of interventions and better informing our decision-making processes, both organisationally and collectively.
A number of ‘user cases’ have been identified which will both inform and be informed by the development of the investment decision support tool and will focus on health inequalities and strategic influencing and planning. The continued engagement of stakeholders and user group will be critical for the development of this approach, with learning applied to existing processes to shape future decision making.