Nine transformational projects from across the East Midlands have had their applications selected to progress being allocated a share of £300k for evaluation support, in the second round of EMAHSN’s evaluation fund.

The opportunity was made available to NHS organisations for innovative projects already in place to be evaluated to determine the benefits of wider implementation. The evaluation of these programmes may help to influence further funding or form part of its business case to make the innovation part of an organisation’s standard practice.

The selected projects for round two address a range of key priorities including cancer, cardiology, respiratory, palliative care, pharmacy services, chronic kidney disease and outpatient services.

Suzanne Horobin, Head of Innovation Exchange at EMAHSN said:  “This is the second round of the fund, and it’s great to see such a range of projects across our region submit for funding. We look forward to working with the programme leads to set up evaluation processes and to be part of supporting them to articulate impact so that these projects can benefit even more patients.”

Successful applicant from round one of the fund, Professor Alun Roebuck Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology and Senior Consultant Nurse, Cardiology, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The support from the EMAHSN has been invaluable in helping us evaluate an Integrated Care Service (ICS) wide complex intervention in heart failure. The grant has facilitated our patients to have a voice and supported the collection and interpretation of a wide variety of multi-factorial data without placing additional pressure on already stretched clinical teams.”

Simon Ringland, Business Manager for the Mental Health Urgent Assessment Centre project, also successful from round one added: “Working with an independent evaluator has really added value to the evaluation process, they have been fantastic with regards to communication. It is obvious from interaction our evaluators have a keen interest in the project and have been supportive with regards to their view on the difference our new service is making.”

The projects that have been selected are:

Leicestershire

• A trans-nasal endoscopy service for diagnostic cancer biopsies in Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) clinics - An alternative pathway has been developed and trialled at University Hospitals Leicester due to Covid pressures, by undertaking trans-nasal procedures in ENT clinics. The hospital trust will use the funding to evaluate the implementation further to explore efficiency improvements, patient outcomes, patient experience and staff experience.
  
  
• Artificial Intelligence powered teledermatology for skin cancer - This project utilises a skin analytics AI solution to provide an opinion on whether a patient with skin lesions needs to be seen by a consultant for further investigation into whether the lesion is cancerous. The project aims to reduce unnecessary attendance in hospitals.
  
  
• Specialist polypharmacy multi-disciplinary team service pilot - To reduce overprescribing and inappropriate polypharmacy a pilot project was developed. Aims for the programme include improved patient satisfaction and cost savings from a reduction in prescribing inappropriate medication.
  
  
• Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland Chronic Kidney Disease Integrated Care Delivery Project (LUCID) - Aims to revolutionise how care is provided for chronic kidney disease in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. Reducing the barriers between primary and secondary care.

Lincolnshire

• Advanced clinical practitioner led cardiac short stay unit - This project was established to address inpatient services and waiting times for angiography. The project was designed to respond to inequalities between the two main Lincolnshire hospitals.

Nottinghamshire

•  Respiratory infection virtual ward - Introduced by Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICS this programme aims to support acute and community providers in the region. The aim is for patients suitable for virtual wards to be cared for at home, freeing up hospital beds and reducing hospital acquired infections.
  
  
• Isla implementation at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - The Isla care platform has provided the hospital with an opportunity to test a digital solution to capture and share images, videos and forms supporting the delivery of community interventions.

Northamptonshire

• Renal virtual ward to reduce the length of stay - Northampton General Hospital plans to introduce three pathways utilising virtual health to reduce the length of stay for patients with kidney diseases.

East Midlands wide

•  Personalised smart messaging and online self-help to manage cancer care physical and mental impact - Offers personalised smart messaging programmes to support and evaluate improvement in the most commonly reported impacts of cancer treatment.

Next steps

Work will now commence with programme leads to establish and understand their needs to help each organisation get the best evaluation of their project. EMAHSN can provide guidance where required to help to identify metrics and benefits to match the aims of the project and determine the most effective evaluation methods and design.

Where projects require EMAHSN to pair them with an independent evaluation partner, the evaluation fund team will work to establish comprehensive bid information this will be communicated with a database of evaluators to ensure the best possible match.

For any more information about the fund please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.