Boosting knowledge literacy in south London

Laurence Benson

Director

SW London Academic, Health and Social Care System

Introduction

The South London HIEC carried out a series of interviews and stakeholder workshops with clinicians and educators in autumn 2010 to generate an evidence base about potential for enhancing knowledge sharing networks in South London and how they could best benefit from IT systems.

Context

• Manager’s and clinicians use of information to support decision making

• Existing networks of health libraries • Established tools and services

– e.g. CARES • Perceived barriers to access

Knowledge literacy aims

• To improve use of information tools • To create an environment for sharing • To create a space for learning• To share ownership • Facilitate self-organisation across

boundaries• Facilitate e-learning distribution

Objectives

• Find out what's needed – Web site– VLE– CRM– Community forums

• Build partnership across HEIs and NHS • Commission delivery

Value of networks

• Building relationships, understanding and trust between different staff groups, between clinical practitioners, academics and other professionals.

• Supporting the diffusion and spread of high-potential innovations in South London.

• Providing stronger intelligence and feedback to local leaders and educators about local clinical skills’ needs and stronger intelligence for staff about available learning opportunities.

Activities

• Establish the value of knowledge specialist role within initial HIEC tender document

• Recruit to role - Nov 2010• Mapping existing stakeholders and activity

and bringing together leaders.• Supporting development of new learning tools• Securing and strengthening sponsorship for

professional networks.

Challenges

• Decline in protected learning time• IT issues between NHS and universities.• Lack of funding.• Lack of information about available learning

opportunities - more so since the decline of the PCT system.

So far…

• Consulted widely about goals and priorities • Launched a practice nurse network and first

communities of practice• E-learning tools for primary care around

diabetes and depression • Neuroleptic prescribing guidelines for GP’s• Use of data on eye screening in diabetes

Conclusion

Knowledge sharing and networks are central to improving quality of care and smoothing the transition to new care settings, but:• They must be sustainable• They must be ‘bottom up’, not ‘top down’• They must be useful, or nobody will use• They must have senior level buy in

Thank you

• Questions?

Further info

Terrence Harrison, knowledge specialist

02087252769

email: teharris@sgul.ac.uk

e: info@slondonhiec.org.uk

w: www.slondonhiec.org.uk