Breaking Barriers:
Channelling the Flow
The aim of this report was to analyse constraints to transformational change in health and social care and present steps towards a flexible, more responsive system to more effectively manage patient flow.
OVERVIEW
The Roundtable brought together representatives from NHS Trusts and CCGs; NHS Improvement; local government and the private sector to discuss the current state of place-based systems in England. The event explored the challenges with managing demand in the NHS at a time when there is growing pressure on limited resource capacity.
The event covered in detail traditional approaches to understand and manage patient flow before identifying constraints to transformational change that would address current fundamental issues. The Sodexo Rehabilitation Solution Model was presented as a patient-centric example of best practice where discharge from acute and emergency care to temporary step-down units proved particularly effective. The event concluded with three recommendations to take forward stronger system leadership for estates transformation within STPs and at NHS Trust board level, financial levers that are aligned with transformation goals, and responsive and flexible service models focused on patient journey.
