UNSCHEDULED CARE EVALUATION
Research type
Research Study
Full title
UNSCHEDULED CARE EVALUATION
IRAS ID
145100
Contact name
Lorna McKee
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Research summary
In Grampian, a new model for the delivery of Unscheduled Care services was being developed. This model had arisen through collaborative engagement with NHS organisations in primary and secondary care, plus through active involvement with social care and third sector organisations. A Decision Support Hub had been created to offer specialist advice to frontline practitioners, to assist in decision-making as to where the best place to treat each patient was: whether in their homes or at the scene supported by paramedics and ambulance personnel: whether to direct patients to community hospitals in the case of minor injuries; or whether to bring directly to Emergency Departments. This initiative represented a radical change of professional practice, with implications for may health and social care organisations and for the different grades of professional staff who worked there. Implementing this change programme was likely to be challenging.
This study would provide formative evaluation of the development and implementation of the new unscheduled care services in Grampian, using qualitative research methods to assess opinion from both professionals as service personnel and patients as service users.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
14/NS/0037
Date of REC Opinion
13 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion