Delivering Information Resources and Services to Primary Care Staff Pt. 1 Carsten Mandt Clinical Librarian Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust

Resources NHSScotland e-library ( GHI ( –“Glasgow Health Information (GHI) is a central gateway to quality online health information and learning resources” –Search by resource type (articles, conference proceedings, books, NHS information, etc.) and target audience (i.e. different health care professions)

Resources

Maria Henderson Library, GGPCT Trust HQ –Print collection of ca. 200 journals and ca. 10,000 books –Contractual staff can join as external members for £30/year → full access to all resources and services, except: ILLs may be limited at library’s discretion and password- protected electronic resources that are not part of the e-library are accessible on-site only

Services Training –Delivered by NES as well as individual NHS library services –Literature Searching –Critical Appraisal Skills

Services Value-Added Information Provision –ILLs –Literature searches –Current awareness services –Support for journal clubs –Support with critical appraisal

Challenge 1 Providing the right information quickly, at point of need, without compromising the quality of the information Clinicians’ lack of time and skills to handle the information appropriately themselves → Require input of information experts to find and appraise evidence Librarians’ lack of in-depth clinical knowledge → critical appraisal of papers by librarians alone can be problematic → Partnership working is required between clinical and information experts to really benefit patient care

Challenge 2 Clinicians’ lack of awareness or fear of EBP as a means of improving patient care → less uptake of services that are available –Communication problems between Trust and contractual staff –Communication problems within practices –Insufficient ICT and support –Remoteness of library in relation to practices

Challenge 3 Lack of appropriate funding –NHSS library services usually not funded to support contractual staff –Only outreach librarian in GGPCT serves mental health practitioners only

Challenge 4 Equity of access at any NHS library –Currently, primary care staff in Glasgow can only (officially) use the GGPCT library –Other NHS libraries provide some services to primary care staff on a good-will basis –Glasgow library strategy is addressing this issue

Delivering Information Resources and Services to Primary Care Staff Pt. 2 Catriona Denoon Library Services Manager Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust

Primary care staff What do you want from health libraries? What can we do for you at the moment? Can we do more for you?

NHS Libraries in Glasgow: North Trust (GRI, Stobhill, Western Infirmary, Beatson, Gartnavel General) South Trust (Southern General, Victoria Infirmary) Primary Care Trust (Maria Henderson Library) Yorkhill NHS Trust PERL (Public Education & Resource Library), Dalian House Sandyford Initiative Proposal: to develop seamless information provision for primary care staff throughout Glasgow

What we’ve done so far: Taken a Glasgow-wide approach NHS Greater Glasgow Library and Information Services Strategy Health Information Coordinator Informal support from all NHS Library services in Glasgow

Current information provision for primary care staff in Glasgow: No regular ongoing funding Inconsistent across Glasgow Depends on goodwill Usage continues to increase Increasing strain on limited resources Almost no promotion of services to staff

Staff to be included: Contractors: GPs, general dental practitioners, community pharmacists, ophthalmic practitioners Staff directly employed by GGPCT who work in primary care teams, eg. district nurses, health visitors Other community health care staff employed by primary or acute trusts

Summary of aims: Develop a Glasgow-wide library service for primary care staff Eliminate inconsistencies in resource provision Collaborative working by all library services Electronic information delivery First stage in the development of a Glasgow-wide approach to health information provision Reflects current NHS strategy, ie. collaboration, equity of access to resources, empowering staff Recognised by Health Board management

Main points in the Strategy: Consolidate and develop a cooperative model of service across Glasgow Entitlement to use any of the NHS libraries in Glasgow Full access rights and services User education and support Promotion to all users

Services we can provide: Up to date and relevant book and journal stock Document requests Current awareness Access to PCs User education – literature searching, appraisal etc Knowledgeable staff

Medium to long-term aims: Secure recurring funding for library and information services for primary care staff Pilot for a collaborative approach to service provision to all health staff in Glasgow Act as a model for provision elsewhere in Scotland Inform development of the NHS Scotland Library and Information Services Strategy