Action learning at the Future Hospital development sites

Abstract

In September 2014, the Future Hospital Programme (FHP) selected four development sites – clinical teams each committed to implementing an innovative project aligned with the vision of the Future Hospital. Through these sites the programme aims to illustrate how the recommendations of the Future Hospital Commission1 can translate into practice. This update provides an insight into their successes and challenges over the first year. The primary aim of the CARTREF project is to provide increased access to specialist opinion for frail, elderly people in rural north Wales, as close to home as possible, through the use of telemedicine. Through ongoing Plan, Do, Study, Act cycles, over the first year of development, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) have established clinics in two community hospitals, Ysbyty Alltwen near Porthmadog and Ysbyty Bryn Beryl near Pwllheli, 25 and 30 miles respectively from the main district general hospital, Ysbyty Gwynedd, in Bangor. The clinical team at BCUHB has also benefitted from input from local patients and links with the RCP Patient and Carer Network, to develop the patient satisfaction questionnaire used at the time of video consultations. Plans are now in place to extend video consultations into a local nursing home and a GP practice in Nefyn for people with Parkinson's disease/movement disorders – connecting Dolgellau hospital in Meirionnydd to Llandudno hospital by video will save the consultant an approximately 100-mile round trip, releasing time to extend the telemedicine clinic. Initially, the team experienced challenges with setting up the infrastructure and equipment and have learned to provide sufficient time for consultations (minimum 30–35 minutes) allowing for any unforeseen issues. Appointing a digital inclusion officer has helped to support patients to overcome any initial apprehension about the new technology and provide practical help to those with hearing or visual impairments to use the …