WIREDGOV

This report presents detailed findings from Blake Stevenson’s independent evaluation of the Brain Health Service demonstrator site in Aberdeen, delivered collaboratively by NHS Grampian, Alzheimer Scotland, and the Scottish Government.

Introduction

This report presents the findings from the independent evaluation of the Brain Health Service demonstrator site in Aberdeen.

Aims of the evaluation

In March 2024, Blake Stevenson Ltd was commissioned to evaluate the new Brain Health Service demonstrator site in Aberdeen, which is delivered through a partnership between NHS Grampian, Alzheimer Scotland and Scottish Government.

The evaluation aimed to examine the effectiveness of the service and its ability to achieve service outcomes to support learning, service development and change. To meet the aims, the evaluation had four key objectives:The purpose of the evaluation was to recommend strategies to:

• to evaluate the Service including its reach, quality and effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance;
• to utilise both qualitative and quantitative data to assess if objectives are being met;
• to assess the impact on equity of access, and effectiveness of intervention in the immediate term; and
• to evaluate the integration and coordination of the Service within the existing healthcare system in NHS Grampian.

The results of this evaluation will provide an evidence base to support decision making in respect of any modifications recommended of the Service model, as well as evidence its efficacy and the potential for adoption elsewhere, including to other areas and settings.

Structure of the report

The remainder of this report is structured as follows:

• Chapter 1 introduces the commissioned work, the purpose of the evaluation, and the overall structure;
• Chapter 2 describes the policy context and methodology employed to gather and analyse data;
• Chapters 3 and 4 set out the key findings, organised around the RE-AIM framework (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance).
• Chapter 5 offers a discussion of these findings, including alignment with evaluation objectives
• Chapter 6 concludes with recommendations for both short-term service improvements and longer-term scalability.

Click here for the full press release