Page 40 - WCEN Dr Rochelle Burgess evaluation report\ Baloon

Attitudes towards coproduced initiatives

The findings suggest that individuals still feel that medical professionals and social workers are an
important source for addressing health concerns (47%), however 53% of the respondents would turn
to community groups or their social networks (see chart 1). This demonstrates that the development
of social networks and the embedding of health services in community sites play a significant role in
improving individual health outcomes. An interesting finding is the importance of friends as a source
of health information, this may be reflective of the nature of marginalized communities’ social networks.
Evidence reports that communities from marginalized communities may not have family members in
their close network (due to fractured family structures as part of wider migration). Therefore, networks
of friends play a key role in the dissemination of information and navigating services.

Seeking help when

concerned about health Other Place of Worship Do not Know
2% 2% 0%
Children
0%
Friends
People from 15%
Local community
or Voluntary
group
13%
Parents
9%

Social Worker or
Other Proffesional
Support Worker
6%
Medical Professional
41% Other Family
6%

Partner
6%

Chart: 1

Respondents were asked to express their attitudes towards the use of health services if they were run
in community organizations, results indicated that 84% of individuals would use the services within the
community groups and 14% may use the services or recommend them to a friend (see chart 2).
Developing on this question, respondents were also asked how they would feel about the services.
88% of the respondents felt positive towards the services in meeting their needs, specifically in terms
of being treated with respect, feeling listed to and providing reliable information. Findings also suggested
that respondents felt staff within community groups would be aware of stigma in the community.
However, whilst 72% of respondents felt they would be more likely to use these services than the GP,
a far greater number of strongly disagreed or disagreed with this than in other questions (see chart 3).
This indicates that respondents still feel services such as GPs play a fundamental role in health care.
It can be concluded that whilst the potential of running health services in the community is positively
regarded by the respondents, the statutory health services remain an important part of delivering health
care services. This further substantiates the need to ensure that community based initiatives are
balanced with services delivered by statutory agencies. Furthermore, it indicates that health services
delivered by medical professionals should be co-designed to better meet the needs of the communities.

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