Access to health care reviews including development of web-based solutions

In early 2000 Milton Keynes Council, Community Trust, Hospital and PCG appointed DSP to review the access to services for older people. In particular, there was concern that local people, and local primary care practitioners were not making optimum use of services for older people and patients were using the Accident and Emergency Department when there were more appropriate services for their needs. This not only had an adverse affect on their care but was also an inefficient use of NHS resources.

DSP undertook a detailed analysis of practitioners’ requirements and concerns as well as speaking to users and carers and to related voluntary sector bodies.

The result was a recognition that the problem was caused by a lack of access to the relevant information about available services and how to make best use of them.

The high quality IT infrastructure in Milton Keynes led to the conclusion the best way of addressing this problem was by setting up a web site for practitioners, users and carers with details of all available services, how to access them, criteria and guidelines. DSP worked with Service Managers to draft text for the Website and then collaborated with Fast Floor Multimedia to develop the pilot internet site. This pilot site is now up and running and can be viewed at www.mkcare.org.uk

New Dental Access Centres

DSP have been retained by Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Health Authority to project manage the development of three new Dental Access Centres (DACs). This work has included contribution to the initial service modelling to define the role of the DACs and how they complement local developments in Personal Dental Service (PDS) Pilots.

The work then moved on to a more conventional project management input including developing plans and specifications for the new facilities and commissioning and managing this work. In addition, DSP prepared project management plans for the financial and human resources aspects of the DAC initiative.

Strategies for changing the interface between primary and secondary care

DSP was responsible for a major piece of work involving Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Trust and the local GPs in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA to prepare a Continuum of Care Strategy. This strategy was developed to improve the relationship and process between the secondary care trust and the primary care providers. DSP facilitated a series of workshops where primary and secondary care colleagues deconstructed the patient and service flows to identify blockages and to develop innovative improvements. A range of over 70 projects were developed involving joint working between the sectors.

The Continuum of Care Strategy was very well received at the higher levels of the NHS and has been used to inform similar projects elsewhere around the country.