Working with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP ​to improve service quality and reduce costs in planned care

Working with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP ​to improve service quality and reduce costs in planned care

Home » Case studies » Working with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP ​to improve service quality and reduce costs in planned care

We worked with commissioners, providers and other stakeholders across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to improve the quality of service for patients and cut costs across planned care.

Background​

Planned care is a top priority for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP). The current acute cost is £348million and has been growing by 14 per cent over the last four years, well above the rate of population increase. National standards are not being met and backlogs are increasing. The target is to improve quality and patient experience in addition to delivering savings of £14million by 2020/21.

Action​

  • A planned care workstream was set up with clinical and management representatives from commissioner and provider organisations, and other major players​
  • National and local data was analysed and ophthalmology and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions were prioritised as the two highest-spend areas where changes could most easily be made​
  • Engagement events were held with a wide range of stakeholders, and guest speakers from NHS England universities and other trusts​ were brought in
  • Seven task-and-finish groups were created, focusing on specific ophthalmology and MSK conditions​
  • Site visits by the groups were arranged to map current processes and then use improvement techniques – such as the five whys – to determine why activities were not adding value. Action plans were then established.

Impact

  • The programme is predicted to save between £1.9m and £4.4m per annum across seven pathways
  • Data sharing at a system level has led to a greater understanding of the way planned care has been provided and has led to changes in practice
  • Standard service specifications have been introduced
  • The referrals process has been improved and the number of referrals has been reduced
  • We have noted improved theatre productivity
  • Unnecessary scanning and injections have been eliminated
  • Commissioning around pain management has been improved
  • Follow-ups are now being carried out in the community, closer to patients’ homes.

During our Planned Care project in Staffordshire, it was clear we needed to forge much stronger relationships across a number of organisational boundaries and change cultural thinking. The CSU has been instrumental in helping us put clinical engagement at the centre of our work. Organising, facilitating and designing workshops to gain insight and involvement; the CSU also invited guest clinicians to share learning. This was not an easy process but together we worked hard to share expertise and design pathways to bring real benefits to patients. 

Mark Seaton, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP Planned Care Workstream Programme Lead

View all

News and views

News

UK National GO Awards Shortlists MLCSU for Collaborative Procurement Initiative 

We are delighted to share the news that our collaborative endeavour with the North Midlands and Black Country…

News

Building capable communities for learning disability and epilepsy

Join us for our webinar on building capable communities to tackle premature avoidable death in people with a…

News

MLCSU to exhibit at NHS ConfedExpo 2023

We are pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at the upcoming NHS ConfedExpo, the flagship health…

View all

How we can help health systems

Developing health systems

Acting as an independent and trusted partner within the system to facilitate working across stakeholders and integrate elements of the provider system…

Learn more about Developing health systems
Developing health systems

Workforce resilience and transformation

Supporting systems to build a sustainable and integrated workforce, transforming systems, organisations and the workforce experience to improve resilience.

Learn more about Workforce resilience and transformation
Workforce resilience and transformation

Communications and engagement

Supporting ICSs with approaches to design and deliver effective communication, engagement and behavioural insights as a key enabler for system change and…

Learn more about Communications and engagement
Communications and engagement

Digitally enabled transformation and IT

Digitising care and partnering with systems for the transformation of digitally enabled service delivery (and other supporting processes) across vision, planning and…

Learn more about Digitally enabled transformation and IT
Digitally enabled transformation and IT

PHM analytics and decision support

Applying intelligence-led understanding of the health of the population to support the redesign of care and improve patient and financial outcomes across…

Learn more about PHM analytics and decision support
PHM analytics and decision support

Place and primary care transformation

Supporting providers to work together at a place and neighbourhood level to manage common resources, integrate community teams, improve health and reduce…

Learn more about Place and primary care transformation
Place and primary care transformation

Clinical redesign and provider collaboration

Redesigning how health and care works across England - placing people at the centre of their own health and care and utilising…

Learn more about Clinical redesign and provider collaboration
Clinical redesign and provider collaboration

CHC and funded care

Providing end-to-end funded care services, including patients as active partners in identifying their healthcare needs and then commissioning care to meet these.…

Learn more about CHC and funded care
CHC and funded care

Business enabling services

Delivering a wide range of support functions through transactional services, business partnering and transformation that drives efficiencies and releases value and time…

Learn more about Business enabling services
Business enabling services

Accessibility Tools