Health improvement services in the UK are converging on an integrated model based on co-location in order to survive funding cuts, according to a new report published by RSPH.

The report, Bringing the health improvement workforce together, suggests that although this transition is largely a response to financial pressures, it is providing significant opportunities to deliver better health outcomes through the more integrated, whole-person approach to health that co-location can facilitate.

As some health improvement services, such as health trainers, are unprotected and therefore at risk of decommissioning under current financial restraints, integration into a community hub approach is becoming the default model preferred by commissioners to continue delivering results while minimising costs.

The report confirms the effectiveness of the health improvement services monitored by the Data Collecting and Recording System (DCRS) across a range of metrics – including a 136% increase in vigorous exercise, a 52% increase in fruit and veg consumption, and a 37% decrease in alcohol consumption post-intervention – as well as their success in engaging with clients in more deprived target demographics which are hard for traditional primary care services to reach. 81,905 clients came through these services between 1 September 2015 and 22 June 2016 alone.

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of RSPH, said: “The wealth of data collected by the DCRS system has once again reaffirmed the vital and effective role played by health improvement services. As such it is crucial that ways are found to secure their future, and it is clear that co-location and integration is the emerging trend that will allow us to do so. While this can help commissioners get value for money from their services, this transition should also be embraced as an opportunity to provide more holistic, whole-person health improvement services at ‘one stop shops’ that can deliver better overall health outcomes.”

David Hopkinson, DCRS National Service Lead, said: “The challenges in health improvement service commissioning have meant that evidencing continued success and improvement in service delivery and financial effectiveness has never been so paramount. That firstly means an ongoing quantification of service value over time, across a range of metrics, not just service throughput and success rates. Secondly that evidence is also best when supplemented by qualitative research as is achieved in this report. This report therefore greatly supports the national evidence base and shows how services are meeting the difficult challenges they face head-on. The statistical achievements of those services analysed in this report continues to astound – it is a privilege to support them.”