Bridge Builders Consulting Project

Background

NHS Lothian will deliver a pilot programme to test the Bridge Builder model in Scotland and to evaluate its impact. The pilot will maintain the fidelity of the model from Denmark to understand how this will apply in a Scottish context. Bridge-builders are volunteers who accompany people who need extra support to attend appointments in the healthcare system. The model was developed by Social Health in Denmark in 2013 and by 2023 it has expanded nationwide.

Working in partnership with universities and colleges, recruiting volunteers from the student body who are studying for a career in healthcare provides opportunities for practice-based learning in ‘real life’ making them more knowledgeable health professionals in future. Volunteers can be recruited from a range of disciplines such as medicine, nursing, allied health professions, psychology, psychiatry, public health.

 AIMS

1) To capture the overall story of the pilot and assess against the intended activities and goals

2) To develop an understanding of the implementation experience of the bridge-builders service model

3) To make recommendations relevant to any future scaling-up, spread and sustainability of the model in Scotland.

Methods

A developmental mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative data) case-study approach. The formative component will include iterative learning and development, drawing on insights from patients, volunteers, care staff and the wider programme team.

Funding

This project is funded by NHS Lothian, November 2024 to end March 2026.