NHS / HEALTHCARE
APRIL 2020
Article Content
The challenge
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trust faced the risk of acute services becoming overwhelmed by increasing demand. The challenge was to rapidly design and mobilise a new frailty service that could coordinate care for elderly and frail patients across the Morecambe Bay health economy. The service needed to ensure patients received the right care, in the right place, while respecting their wishes and avoiding unnecessary acute hospital admissions.
What we did
Castlerigg worked with the Trust to design a new frailty service capable of coordinating patient flow across hospital, community and social care. Using modelling and simulation, we forecast demand, workforce requirements and pressure on services as COVID-19 cases increased. The service was designed to be digital and virtual by default, enabling clinicians and carers to access information, make decisions and coordinate referrals remotely.
At a glance
14 days
From initial idea to fully operational service.
1,923 Anticipatory Care Plans
Developed in just two weeks.
4 days
To scope, approve, advertise, interview and appoint staff.
10 new technology capabilities
Created for reuse across the health economy.
How we approached it
Understand
Assess the impact of COVID-19 on frail and elderly patients and the Morecambe Bay health system.
Model
Use data, modelling and simulation to forecast demand, workforce needs and service capacity.
Design
Create the patient pathway, workforce model, processes, protocols and governance arrangements.
Enable
Configure technology, develop training and establish real-time information to operate virtually.
Mobilise
Recruit and train the team, connect health and social care services and go live within 14 days.
The impact
14
DAYS
From initial idea to fully operational service.
1,923
ANTICIPATORY CARE PLANS
Developed in just two weeks.
4
DAYS
To scope, approve, advertise, interview and appoint staff.
10
NEW TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES
Created for reuse across the health economy.
The transformation
BEFORE: PRESSURED SYSTEM
Risk of acute services becoming overwhelmed. Gaps in care planning and patient wishes. Traditional working arrangements. Complex referral routes. Demand changing rapidly.
AFTER: COORDINATED FRAILTY SERVICE
Coordinated patient flow across health and social care. 1,923 Anticipatory Care Plans in place. Digital and virtual care from day one. Clear referral pathways and real-time intelligence to adapt and respond.
Delivering at pace
Castlerigg worked with internal teams and suppliers to remove barriers and keep the programme moving. For example, video-consultation functionality within EMIS Community was deployed within two hours after we worked with the Trust’s suppliers to resolve the issue.
DAY 1
CHALLENGE
The need for a coordinated frailty service was agreed.
DAY 4
ROLES SCOPED
Roles scoped and recruitment underway.
DESIGN & BUILD
TECHNOLOGY
Technology, processes, protocols, training and governance designed.
DAY 14
SERVICE LIVE
The service went live across the health economy.
Let’s make change work, together.
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Castlerigg helped us turn digital strategy into a practical business strategy for the council. Their work gave us a clear view of where we needed to strengthen our digital capability.
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