New report captures learnings and innovative practice emerging from across NHS Wales in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
A new report looking at learning and innovative practice that has emerged from across NHS Wales in response to COVID-19, has been released today by Swansea University on behalf of NHS Wales organisations and partners.
The NHS Wales COVID-19 Innovation and Transformation Study - Summary of Emerging Themes report, launched ahead of the full report next month, highlights emerging findings and learnings around why NHS organisations and staff could and did innovate in the face of the pandemic, and outlines some next steps.
Over 1,000 responses to five studies and surveys were received from a broad cross-section of staff, in addition to a further five reports from across the health and care sector in Wales. The responses and analysis have formed a broad evidence base for new and innovative practice emerging from across NHS Wales in the last 12 months.
Emerging themes and learning highlighted within the report includes improved digital access, accelerated decision-making, sustaining the pace of innovation and change and learnings around staff wellbeing.
The full report, which contains the full analysis, a set of supporting case studies and recommendations to take forward the key findings, will follow.
Andrew Goodall, Director General for Health and Social Services and Chief Executive of the NHS Wales, said: “Our response to Covid-19 has accelerated the implementation of many areas of A Healthier Wales - our long-term plan for health and care. As we continue into the challenging times ahead and the stabilisation and reconstruction of our services, we have an opportunity to build on the innovative examples in this report and ensure our new ways of working become firmly embedded in our healthcare system.”
Darren Hughes, Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said: “This report will enable NHS leaders to reflect upon and embed learning and innovation across the service, accelerating change to improve the way health and care services in Wales delivered. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated what is achievable through cross-sector working, with integrated policies for health and social care. We hope the full report will serve as a springboard for action and service improvement across the NHS and social care in Wales, as we work towards a brighter future for health and social care.”
Tom James, Assistant Director of Innovation, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: “From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen so many health and care staff taking instinctive action to quickly and innovatively respond to new circumstances, adding significant new value. Our project team have captured a huge range of novel practice and learning through the COVID-19 Innovation Study, to provide open access to this knowledge and allow for its adoption across Wales.”
Professor Helen Griffiths, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at Swansea University, said: “Swansea University is continuing in its mission to support Wales in helping to create a better and healthier future for its people through our research and innovation efforts. The highly collaborative research report, prepared by a multidisciplinary partnership led by our School of Management - with cross-college and broader partnership of the Medical School, the Accelerate HTC programme, as well as ARCH and the Bevan Commission – highlights opportunity for innovation to support health and social care and will support NHS Wales and the Welsh Government’s future health and wellbeing agendas.”
The NHS Wales COVID-19 Innovation and Transformation Study report has been delivered in collaboration with leadership and resources provided by the project team, with each party bringing their own expertise and support.
