Prevention Assessment Team

The Prevention Assessment Team (PAT) is a collaboration of partners from the County Council, Sussex Community Foundation NHS Trust, Age UK West Sussex Brighton and Hove and Guild Care, providing information, advice and guidance to people aged 18 years and over who are able to act on the information provided to them. The team normally works with people who do not receive services from specialist health care teams or social care services.

The PAT works to enable people to access the support they need to live independently at home and as part of their community and to prevent or delay the need for more intensive services.

In 2022-23 there were 1,636 referrals into the team. Of the referrals:

• 395 were people of working age
• 1,215 were for those aged over 65 years
• 26 where age was not disclosed

In 2022-23, the NHS nurse advisers completed 489 health checks, an increase of 52% on the previous year (321). 44 outreach events were attended and 358 blood pressures recorded and advice given. 78% of people were given advice on cholesterol reduction, 66% on weight management, 17% of people were referred to their GP due to high blood pressure and 13 required a same day GP appointment due to the identified risk of having very high blood pressure.