Derry's Clarendon Medical celebrate ‘Strengthened Connections’ success

A few years ago, the Community Social Work [CSW] team at Clarendon Medical – Roisin Cartmill and Caroline Stack – had a vision of new and different ways to support the health and well-being of the patients. As a team, they actively listened to the patients in the practice and responded to their needs.

The vision soon became a reality when the CSW team invited the Yellow Wood [YW] group to deliver a pilot programme called ‘Healthy Connections’ at Clarendon Surgery. The aim was to offer patients alternative ways of managing their well-being, alongside medical advice and guidance. The seeds of change were sown.

Dr Grainne McAnee of Ulster University evaluated the programme and discovered it made a difference to the lives of those who attended. When asked what they thought they had gained from the programme, group members indicated that they had…

‘ ……experienced healing, learning, well-being and increased positive sense of self that allowed access to a sense of ease within themselves.’

The success of ‘Healthy Connections’ was the stepping stone to further collaborations, to co-production and the development of a new and evolving Mental Well-Being Programme.

Through the support of the Ideas Fund, Yellow Wood – Rosemary, Fiona and Anne - in collaboration with the CSW team at Clarendon Medical, the peer mentors - Emma, Declan and Jenny - who emerged from Healthy Connections programme, Dr Grainne McAnee and Dr Orla McDevitt-Petrovic, the researchers at Ulster and the support of Roisin McLaughlin at North West Community Network, Communities of Practice Co-Ordinator, the programme gradually evolved to address and meet the needs of patients.

It was important that safety and trust were at the core of the work. A range of creative tools helped to provide the conditions within which patients felt able to explore and discuss, develop more understanding of self and as a result increase their sense of personal strength, capacity and well-being.

Presenting the findings of the ‘Strengthened Connections’ report at the launch, Dr Grainne McAnee with group from Yellow Wood and Clarendon Medical "Strengthened Connections" Phase 2 Well-being celebrations held in the City Hotel. (Photos - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

Patients provided feedback on their experience of participating:

One patient commented that the programme should be ‘put into every surgery’ and another patient participant intimated…

“I did feel I belonged in the group. I felt very welcome. More welcome than I’ve ever felt in my life.”

The launch of ‘Strengthened Connections’ marks the successful completion of this phase of the Programme. The years of hard work invested by all the collaborators has paid off. Clarendon Medical Community has expanded and grown with the formation of a Patient Committee, an allotment group, carers group and walking group.

Presenting the findings of the ‘Strengthened Connections’ report at the launch, Dr Grainne McAnee said: “For me at the heart of all this work lies the quote ‘mighty oaks from little acorns grow’. Roisin had an idea, the little acorn. She planted it and we grew Healthy Connections. From that we have grown Strengthened Connections.

Jenny Coyle, with from right, Caroline Stack, Roisin Cartmill and Joanne Aiken.

“The Connections series has led to change for every individual involved, for the Clarendon Medical community, and my personal hope is also at a systemic level. Imagine a world where our GP surgery is at the heart of a community of wellness. That is one mighty oak indeed.”

And a final word from Roisin Cartmill who spoke of how rewarding it was for her to refer the patients to the YW programme: “We heard their struggles, we noticed their strengths, talents, and gifts. The authentic partnership and co-production of the programme with YW, our peer mentors and Dr Grainne McAnee the researcher, has been so worth it. We are also privileged to be part of the Primary Care Multi-Disciplinary Unit, based in Clarendon Medical.”.

Group at the celebration of the Yellow Wood "Strengthened Connections" Phase 2 Well-being held in the City Hotel. From left, are Joanne Crapp, Donna Johnston, Don Saunders and Paul Doherty.

Yellow Wood and Clarendon are to continue with their valuable work as they prepare for Phase 2 – a new and exciting development in which all five of their peer mentors (Noma and Donna recently came on board) will continue to facilitate their own existing programmes - music, art, crystal workshops, family days and new workshops such as creative writing with a difference will be part of the new vision for the months ahead.