The Elevate Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying innovative models of urgent and EmeRgency care In rural and Coastal Areas in England: a mixed methods study
IRAS ID
343094
Contact name
Arabella Scantlebury
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
researchregistry11126, researchregistry reference number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
In 2023, NHS England launched a 2-year plan to recover Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC). Rural and coastal communities face unique challenges compared to urban areas, and identifying tailored care models for rural/coastal areas is a national priority, as highlighted in the Chief Medical Officer’s 2021 report. How these areas are responding to the UEC recovery plan remains unclear. This project will address this evidence gap.
Aim: identify and evaluate innovative models of UEC in rural and/or coastal communities in England, including impact on patient care, clinical outcomes, workforce and use of healthcare resources.
Objectives: We will explore the following within the context of rural and/or coastal communities:
1. What innovative models of UEC exist in England?
2. How and why do new UEC models impact clinical outcomes and the wider healthcare system and what is their resource use?
3. How and why do new UEC models affect patient and/or carer experience and the UEC workforce?
4. What are the implications of new UEC models for health inequalities (e.g. access to healthcare for under-served groups)?
5. What models and/or components of UEC within rural and/or coastal communities should be scaled-up and implemented to improve service provision within rural and/or coastal communities?How will we do it?
We will review NHS documents from different hospitals and services and talk to key decisions makers. From this we will map the different innovative UEC models currently in place.
We will use standard performance indicators and create new performance indicators to assess the impact of these UEC models through statistical analysis.
Researchers will visit UEC sites to watch and speak to patients and staff who work at them, talking also to other UEC-related staff. This will help us find what works well for whom, what needs improving, and how improvements can be made.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
25/NS/0099
Date of REC Opinion
1 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion