PPL worked with Surrey Heartlands to set up a new community hospital in response to Covid-19.
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, health and care systems around the world were faced with unprecedented challenges to their capacity, including the ability to respond to a rapid rise in demand. In Surrey, modelling indicated a need for more facilities to support those recovering from serious illness, promoting recovery and enabling local health and care services to be able to respond to the anticipated flow of new patients.
The PPL team worked with Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System (SHICS) to develop the NHS Seacole Centre, a community bedded rehabilitation and ‘step-down’ hospital located in a decommissioned military facility. The Centre was opened by Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health on 4th May 2020, just 35 days after the need for it was confirmed.
PPL was engaged to support the development of the clinical and performance model. In collaboration with clinicians and senior leaders across Surrey, we were able to write a business case to secure the necessary funds for the facility in just a few days. Whilst the formal work was a vital part of the development effort, as valuable were the countless conversations across all the teams working jointly to deliver the Centre.
The additional capacity this enabled was instrumental in:
• Improving the quality of care and outcomes for Covid-19 patients.
• Reducing the pressure on other health and care organisations.
Recent data indicate that the majority of patients (64.8%) at the NHS Seacole Centre are now discharged directly home, and about half are discharged on or before their Estimated Discharge Date: highlighting the success of the centre in providing intermediate care and preventing Covid-19 patients from having to be transferred back to acute hospital beds.
The NHS Seacole Centre was also established to enable and support staff to provide the best care possible in challenging circumstances. Staff development and welfare remain key;
and whilst this has continued to be a period of huge challenges, the NHS Seacole Centre has demonstrated its value, operating throughout the subsequent waves of Covid-19 infection and into 2021.
Following the opening of the centre PPL’s work shifted into supporting the development of a system-wide Performance Dashboard. The associated Performance Board has become a
forum for gathering information across the system and learning about what is working in treatment and rehabilitation. It continues to drive collaboration, and to support those working
on the ground to achieve better outcomes.
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