LEARNING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
CONCLUSIONS
Key elements of the National Health Demonstration Project Programme are now in place. Following necessary lead-in periods, each of the Demonstration Projects has laid firm foundations and built momentum.
This report has provided a brief account of Projects' achievements so far, some of the obstacles and challenges that they have faced and early lessons that have emerged. Projects are beginning to make a difference in their own areas and have the potential to demonstrate lessons that will help make a difference to others.
A common lesson that has emerged across the Programme as a whole has been that it can take longer than expected to establish large-scale preventive programmes and to build necessary infrastructures or partnerships. Realistic plans and timescales must be built in from the start.
Projects will build on their foundations in Years 2 and 3 and apply lessons learned so far. Key challenges for the National Health Demonstration Project Steering Group in the coming year are to address Projects' continuity and sustainability and to capture, distil and share emerging lessons to stakeholders throughout Scotland. The Scotland-wide Learning Networks will assist this process.