Health and Care Research and Evaluation Service

People with a recorded diagnosis of severe mental illness (SMI) face considerable health inequalities: they die an average of 15 to 20 years younger than the general population and cancer is their leading cause of premature mortality. We are undertaking research with the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust to look at the prevalence of cancer diagnoses amongst people with SMI and explore if/how oncology and mental health services/professionals work together and how this could be improved.

Nimbuscare is transforming its frailty pathways in York and has commissioned us to evaluate the impact of the frailty hub on patients, carers and family members and to understand professionals’ views on what is working well and what could be improved.

Our initial focus will be to evaluate the crisis arm, through qualitative research and surveys of professionals and patients/cares/family members, and an initial qualitative evaluation of the prevention arm’s three neighbourhood Multi-Disciplinary Teams (launched in September 2025). We will also undertake a rapid literature review of the critical success factors for MDTs and/or integrated teams at a primary care level.

Raise York is a partnership within York that supports children, young people and families from pregnancy to adulthood. A gap has been identified in the information they collect across the partnership that they use to measure their five co-produced key outcomes. We have been commissioned to develop and analyse a new survey for parents to collect data to measure these outcomes.

'Pip, Pop and a Pandemic' is a powerful documentary that delves into the lived experience of schizophrenia, following two couples from Northeast England before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the documentary, we are undertaking qualitative research to examine and get a deeper understanding of the health disparities experienced by people with severe mental illness (SMI) and how their physical health can be better supported.

The research has so far included a literature review to investigate existing research on SMI and annual health checks, focus groups to understand how individuals with SMI perceive and experience health checks and the wider healthcare system and focus groups/interviews with mental health professionals. We are now carrying out interviews to explore the perspectives of GPs, nurses, and other primary care staff on delivering health checks and care for SMI patients.

The North Yorkshire and Humber Cancer Alliance commissioned us to undertake a cancer awareness survey amongst residents of North Yorkshire, York, East Riding, Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. We worked in partnership with the six Healthwatch organisations in these areas to obtain over 6,100 responses from a wide range of people, including talking to people who would not normally answer a survey.

The Cancer Alliance wished to gain a deeper understanding and insight of cancer awareness and understanding of symptoms within our region’s differing communities and populations. The survey findings will inform strategy and planning by NHS commissioners and providers, with the potential to contribute to the future planning of cancer services including targeting support and resources for identified communities. Read the full report.

Dementia Forward is seeking to develop a key resource and centre of excellence for people with young onset dementia. However, evidence appears to show that place-based services have not been as effective as anticipated, and Dementia Forward wanted to understand why this is so and understand more about what those with young onset dementia need from a resource/hub, including gaps in the existing journey/pathways. We undertook a desk review of published studies on existing models of care for people with young onset dementia, after their diagnosis, that can offer support and activities. We have completed participatory action research using PhotoVoice with those living with young onset dementia and their families. This focused on their experiences of support, looking at what is available, what they use and what they want including gaps in what is available. A copy of the summary report is available and the findings have been published in Dementia.

The feedback from the desk review and the participatory work has been used within a wider consultation run by Dementia Forward as they develop the Hub. We have also undertaken an evaluation of the services and support provided by Dementia Forward for people with young onset dementia and their families, using a combination of surveys, interviews and focus groups. A copy of the summary report is available.

The Natural Health Service for North Yorkshire was developed to show how a Protected Landscape–led model of green social prescribing can play a stronger role in improving mental and physical wellbeing. It also sought to reduce isolation, support social, physical, and economic activity, and contribute to prevention and early intervention - while connecting people with nature. The pilot combined two connected elements: a structured 10 week nature based intervention in our Protected Landscapes (North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales National Parks, Howardian Hills and Nidderdale National Landscapes) plus professional training and workforce development.

Read the report: Natural Health Service for North Yorkshire Report (PDF, 13.9 MB)

Right Care Right Person (RCRP) was introduced by Humberside Police in 2019 as a programme of partnership working and the withdrawal of the police from certain types of demand, aiming to ensure that vulnerable people are given the right care and support when they are in crisis. When there is immediate risk to life or a risk of serious harm, police will still attend. However, when agencies call police about issues which don’t meet the threshold for police intervention, they will signpost them to the most appropriate service. The police have reported savings in terms of officer hours saved, yet the impact upon and experience from a health and social care and service user perspective has yet to be evidenced.

We undertook a small-scale qualitative study to obtain initial feedback from a wide range of professionals within the whole system, including mental health practitioners, staff in A&E, ambulance service staff and police officers.

Read the report: Report on small scale evaluation of RCRP in Humber (PDF, 0.4 MB)

DEX, a small charity working with deaf young people, commissioned us to evaluate its deaf young people culture and heritage project, including what worked well, what has not worked as well and any improvements DEX could make. The evaluation used various qualitative approaches and surveys of young people and parents.