sussex and east surrey stp

Sussex and East Surrey Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) engaged In-Form Solutions to undertake a strategic impact assessment. This was to investigate the effect of plans to introduce localised Urgent Treatment Centres, in line with NHSE policy on A&E departments and Minor Injuries Units, across six hospitals within the communities of Sussex and East Surrey.

In-Form Solutions’ multi-disciplinary team of professionals from service, workforce, clinical, finance and contracting backgrounds assessed and presented the impact of the proposed service changes on financial flows, workforce requirements, and the clinical and safety aspects of the planned local changes.

The assessment required us to undertake data collection, engage with commissioners and providers, design a robust assessment tool and present our findings in workshops with a large number of stakeholders.

The key activities and outputs included:

• The development and establishment of a robust governance framework and outline plans.
• A secure infrastructure for collaboration with a safe repository through Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
• Numerous project management plans, risk assessments and monitoring & reporting processes.
• A review of the impact on the sustainability of the current A&E and MIU providers.
• An assessment of the implications for clinical governance, patient safety and quality.
• The financial impact on individual partners, as well as on the health system overall
• The workforce implications of the change of patient flows.
• The impact on regularity standards, digital connectivity and information governance.
• A number of workshops, alongside a series of one to one meetings with key stakeholders.
• Presentation of the initial findings and gaining feedback from stakeholders.
• Preparing and presenting our findings through written reports.

The outcome of our work has been the STP’s successful implementation of the plans, incorporating findings and governance framework.

The brief was a challenging one with varying degrees of access to the key stakeholders necessary to complete the assignment. The consultants were able to meet their brief and where challenges were made, they responded proactively to redress the situation. They acquitted themselves well – clearly a professional organisation well versed in the ways of the NHS."

- Maggie Keating Senior Programme Manager, Sussex & East Surrey STP