Community Hospitals (CH) made important contributions during the Covid-19 response, demonstrating flexibility, resilience and innovation. CH are local hospitals, often rural, with around 500 throughout the UK.
The Community Hospitals Association (CHA) wanted to share this learning and was successful in accessing funding for this project.
The project aims to describe, support and promote innovation developed during Covid-19 through shared learning across the network of CH in the UK.
We will survey Covid-19 related innovations and best practice systematically at organisational level. Data collection will be by interview using a standardised protocol or aligned online survey completion. Additional case studies may be completed following data collection.
Analysis using QI methodology on positive impact changes, methodology used, collaborations making them possible and identifying key learning will allow assessment of longer-term impact and the challenges of sustainability.
Learning will be shared across the network of Community Hospitals.
A steering group including CHA committee members, members and academic colleagues will oversee the project. Just Ideas have been engaged to undertake the project with support from the committee.
A Q Special Interest Group for Community Hospitals has been set up and can be accessed here.
The project team have an active research interest and have published extensively in the field of CH care and policy, visit communityhospitals.org website. A report, academic paper and resources for CH will be part of the output of the project. CHA is active on social media and will use this mode to share learning and links to activity on the website.
10 organisations have been approached and are engaged in the project. The data so far is demonstrating rich learning which can be shared and the enthusiasm for the project is incredible.
For more information visit: communityhospitals.org.uk
This project is funded through Q Exchange by the Health Foundation and NHS England and NHS Improvement.