Patient Activation Measure update: We're still activating people, but Flourish notice has been served 

For over two years, a small group of colleagues from across the system have worked together to look at how we 'tailor' healthcare services for people.

Collectively, we chose to use the Flourish system from Insignia Healthcare and it has been a great success in bringing a Patient Activiation Measure (PAM) approach to life in Lincolnshire.

Over 1,600 people have now completed PAM surveys, and many have done so more than once, showing their improved activation scores, and a positive change in health behaviours.

Read the Lincolnshire People's Activation Measure report that Matt has put together, which outlines some of the successes and the interesting data trends we've noticed. 

Unfortunately, continuing to fund the licence for Flourish has proved challenging and we've had to inform our colleagues that we intend to end the use of Flourish by the 1st April 2025. 

That doesn't mean we'll stop using and assessing the PAM approach, though - colleagues continue to work behind the scenes to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.

There's no denying that increased activation has both a cost-saving and capacity-building impact on the system and the evidence base for the approach is strong and growing.

How will we manage without Flourish, moving forward? Well, in the spirit of 'Making the most of what we have available to us' (Foundation 5 of Our Shared Agreement), we'll be rolling out our own co-produced tool, specially designed for the Lincolnshire system and built upon the principle of a 'better relationship' between people and health and care providers.

The Lincolnshire PAM tool will be shorter in length than the Flourish PAM 10/13, but longer than the 'One Question' approach used elsewhere.

We look forward to sharing this new tool with you, after testing, in the New Year. 

In the meantime, please continue to use Flourish or the Coaching for Activation tools. Both are paid for until the end of March, which provides us with further time to support people.

• Read the What is patient activation leaflet 
• Listen to the It's All About People Podcast Episode 4: Patient Activation with Deborah Whitfield from the Parkinson's Service

We'd like to thank Naomi and her colleagues at Insignia/Phressia for their support and encouragement with the PAM approach and wish them all the best moving forward. 

For further information, please contact matthew.evans34@nhs.net