BBF - how to plan for future healthcare while managing todays pressure

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Building a Brighter Future: the design and evaluation of evidence-based, coproduced integrated care pathways for (a) frailty/older people and (b) perioperative care/orthopaedics that are future-ready while addressing the pressures and problems of the present.

• IRAS ID

  322539

• Contact name

  Joanne Watson

• Contact email

  joanne.watson@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Torbay & South Devon Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 3 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Service reconfiguration is required to ensure that the Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (TSDFT) can redevelop its ageing infrastructure for present use and is ready to meet projected demand. This reconfiguration entails deploying assets of roles, technology and space differently. However, there are no established empirically informed frameworks to draw on, and this must happen without compromising the current quality of service. Thus, this 15-month project will design and evaluate evidence-based, coproduced integrated care pathways (ICPs) for (a) frailty/older people and (b) perioperative care/orthopaedics taking place at the TSDFT. The study has two phases:

  Phase one builds upon four months of previous work by the researchers with clinical teams. It has three parts:
  • Collating and synthesising evidence and undertaking interviews with national stakeholders
  • Co-facilitating learning events for staff, patients and caregivers
  • Supporting the consensus-building and coproduction of the two prototype ICPs

  In phase two, researchers will advise system leaders on the resources needed to implement innovations in the short term. In addition, each care area will:
  • Identify specific shorter-term plans for implementing and embedding innovations based on advice from Researcher-In-Residence (RiR) about resources (e.g., training, technology)
  • Evaluate service innovations with researchers

  A formative evaluation of how local context affects the design process and delivery of ICP change enables the system to learn in real-time across phases 1 and 2. For example, how immediate workload and policy pressures affect desired progress. This approach focuses on the practicalities of innovation, an under-researched area. Feedback will be monthly via programme working groups for each ICP.

  Finally, the phase 2 summative evaluation of impact outcomes for ICP innovations will include before/after changes in the number of patients engaging in digital and other preventive activities and specific outcomes of the interventions.

  The desired outcome: A shift from the hospital towards community and supported home-based care.

• REC name

  Social Care REC

• REC reference

  23/IEC08/0036

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Oct 2023

• REC opinion

  Unfavourable Opinion