Maximising capability

Below are the change ideas that can be tested to enable services to maximise their capability and ensure they can offer care sustainably and safely during COVID-19. The change ideas listed here will be updated as more learning is generated as part of the Access Learning System.

Provision of training and educational materials to support staff
- Creating communication channels to share learning
To help create opportunities during COVID-19 for elective care services teams often facing the same challenges as their colleagues, to share their learning Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust launched a QI podcast channel.

Read how the Quality Improvement Evidence team at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust have used Pinterest to overcome the barrier of working remotely which can restrict collaboration, and result in fewer opportunities for staff to share ideas, and learn from one another.
- Creating user friendly resources can increase staff confidence and reduce the need for clinic consultation
A team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow created bite-size illustrated information guides for staff to provide support and information at pace. The use of infographics helped staff gain knowledge and confidence in the care they are delivering.
Use of technology to increase capability (such as digital resources and text messaging services)
- Incorporating digital rehabilitation can help keep patients safe and increase staff efficiency
A new orthopaedic surgery pathway incorporating digital innovation (BPMpathway Range of Motion (ROM) sensor ankle bracelet) at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust has been shown to both reduce the length of time patient spends in hospital and increase staff efficiency.
- Presenting data in new ways can increase staff capability and understanding
To aide decision-making at pace during COVID-19, the Health and Business Intelligence (HBI) Team at NHS Tayside created a tailored Statistical Process Control (SPC) chart template to present data in an easy to read manner.
- Use of a text messaging service can save services both time and money
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMB) launched a new SMS outpatient appointment letters system to ensure patients are updated about their appointments in a quick and efficient manner.
- Using innovative technology can increase staff capability
University Hospitals of Morecombe Bay Foundation Trust piloted new equipment to support staff at the patient’s bedside. Microsoft HoloLens 2 are mixed reality headsets which allow ward staff to contact the consultant on-call without requiring them to be on-site.
Enabling staff safety and wellbeing to increase staff capability
- During COVID-19, teams across the NHS have created a number of resources and support services to ensure staff stay safe and well. This is essential to their ability to deliver the best care to patients and helps create a happy workforce.

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