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Acute wards: problems and solutions

Implementing real change in acute in-patient care — more than just bringing in the builders....

NIMHE Eastern Mental Health Development Partnership, 654 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 9YQ

Geoff Sheppard, Director of Partnerships and Development

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Declaration of interest

None.

Abstract

AIMS AND METHOD

To develop an evidence-based approach that supports the improvement of front-line delivery of adult acute in-patient services. Key factors of effective organisational change were identified from the literature. These were adopted as part of an ‘evidence-based service development’ programme. This approach was used by the Health Advisory Service in a project with an NHS Trust in south east England.

RESULTS

Significant progress was made in improving the quality of local acute in-patient services.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Further development and evaluation of this approach should be undertaken, since it seems to offer significant opportunities to deliver real improvements in the quality of services.

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