A year long project that will provide three online ‘chatroom’ sessions with a minimum of three healthcare experts to deliver information, facilitate a discussion and answer questions on a topic chosen by the community itself.

We have held sessions like this within the community before focusing on COVID-19 and the misinformation surrounding protection protocol and vaccines. These have been very successful throughout the community.

We have also held sessions on mental health and diabetes and would love to be able to extend this further covering health topics that the community itself deems important.

Project Aims and Objectives:

‘Promoting a healthy community’ aims to address the misinformation that the community has received on a number of health issues. Many members of the community receive their information on healthcare through word of mouth or from many conflicting sources.

• We aim to tackle the abundance of misinformation in the community through using medical specialists to provide educational and information sessions. These sessions will empower the community members to make informed decisions on their health.

• We aim to address the emotional attachment that many members of the community have with these misconceptions.

• To deliver these sessions online so as to reach the highest number of vulnerable people and to make it as accessible as possible.

• To provide opportunities for the community to relay what healthcare advice that they feel they need and then tailor the sessions to meet this demand.

• To provide opportunities for discussion and to ask questions to healthcare professionals.

• To provide workshops and 1-1 follow up sessions.

Project Outcomes:

Although our original proposal was to conduct 3 information sessions, we found that there was in increase in interest from the community to have more sessions.

This led to an increase number of peer support sessions.

Children and young people (CYP) with complex Cerebral Palsy (GMFCS IV and V) have abnormal muscle tone and postural deformities, which restrict lung function. These CYP are susceptible to recurrent respiratory infections.  Relaxation of Covid-19 measures in 2021 prompted a global, non-seasonal surge in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common childhood lower respiratory tract infection. RSV causes bronchiolitis or pneumonia, often hospitalising children. To protect these vulnerable CYP a proposal was made to pilot an outreach-in reach, rapid response service.

“For children who are in and out of hospital all their life, someone coming to the house to help with respiratory physio really relieves the stress and anxiety.”

Project Aims and Objectives:

Based upon population health strategies, the project aimed to deliver cost-effective, prudent, innovative, sustainable healthcare to the CYP of Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB) area.

The objectives were to reduce A&E/PAU/hospital admissions, reduce length of stay with early supported discharge, to educate parents/carers to self-manage the CYP and improve quality of life (QoL) for the CYP and their family.

Project Approach:

This is the first paediatric outreach respiratory service in Wales for CYP with complex disability.

Services were benchmarked across the UK and a Nottingham-based model was adapted for our local population.

A collaborative approach was taken, engaging parents, Allied Health Professionals and medics to create a new service delivery plan. Questionnaires were issued to parents to establish baseline data and pathways were streamlined in an iterative approach to feedback.

Project Impact:

Data from PROMs and PREMs:
➢ significant improvement in Quality of Life measures for whole family
➢ improved patient-centred care/MDT working
➢ Reduced parental anxiety
➢ Improved sleep
➢ Improved voice projection
➢ Increased alertness
➢ Improved ability to chew and swallow food effectively

Project Outcomes:

• 16 admissions were prevented, plus an additional 55 bed days saved compared to 2021 data.
• 6 admissions prevented; 5 bed days saved compared to 2019 data.
• Average of 14 bed days saved per annum for assessment-only admissions lasting 1-2 days each.
• Cost benefit over 8-months a minimum of £28,350.

Specific information on estimation of carbon footprint of a routinely performed surgical procedure such as CTR is lacking.

This study sets out to not only estimate the carbon footprint of CTR, but also to demonstrate environmental, financial and social impact of introducing changes applying sustainable healthcare principles in BCUHB.

Project Aims/Objectives:

1. To define the carbon footprint of CTR operation as performed under standard patient pathway.

2. To reduce the carbon footprint of CTR by changing to a “lean and green theatre set up” by:

• Using smaller trays with fewer surgical instruments & smaller drapes.

• Reducing use of single-use items.

3. To assess the financial costs of traditional and ‘lean and green’ pathways for CTR

• Total of 43 patients from June –Dec 2021
• 80% reduction in carbon footprint
• Reduction by 22.14 Kg Co2 per case
• 2/3 economic savings
• Cheaper by £34.72 per CTR
• No complications

There is an extensive and compelling evidence base that housing and health are linked. There are multiple relationships that are bi-directional and impact on both mental and physical health.  Housing is also a major determinant of NHS pressures. A cold home can exacerbate chronic illness. It is also a major element of hospital discharge, especially in situations where patient mobility has changed. Yet there is no systematic framework to convert the evidence into practice across Wales.

In recognition of this, this project has set out to build bridges between housing and health with a view to better linkages.

Project Aims and Objectives:

Aim:

The overall aim of the project was to set down a foundation for a long-term housing and health programme across Wales.  The aim of such a programme would be to improve health and reduce NHS pressures by converting the evidence into practice.

Objectives:

• Develop a housing and health good practice guide
• Convene an all-Wales Community of Practice
• Test the good practice guide in at least one Health Board
• Raise awareness on the guide and the evidence-base.

Project Outcomes:

• Community of Practice brought together different partners, with the potential for future collaboration beyond the project.

• Good practice guide on health and housing delivered in a short and long version. A service user group was involved in the development of this guide.

• The good practice guide has been piloted in one health board.

Vascular disease affects the circulatory systems which includes arteries, veins and lymphatics.

In July 2022, a major service change was initiated where 4 health boards amalgamated to form the South East Wales Vascular Model.

All patients requiring complex vascular care would be admitted to the Hub. When medically fit from a vascular perspective they would be discharged home or if there were ongoing medical needs they would be repatriated to spoke hospitals nearer home. This would result in ABUHB having no vascular inpatient beds and non vascular wards receiving repatriated vascular patients with ongoing medical requirements.

Project Aims and Objectives:

To deliver ongoing educational support mechanisms to ensure patient safety and support non vascular wards with educational tools to provide equity of care to these patients.

To improve knowledge, skills and competencies to non vascular nursing staff to improve rates of inappropriate referral or readmission to the Hub.

Work within prudent healthcare principles an sustain a competent workforce.

Project Approach:

Team meetings were conducted to inform staff and listen to their concerns.  ABUHB has 10 spoke hospitals across a huge geographical area. The project focused on larger spoke hospitals and an intention to roll out to other spoke hospitals.

Key stakeholders identified potential problems around education, teaching packages, skills development and additional would management knowledge.

Project Outcomes:

Centralisation underwent several postponements and significant delays, with the model taking effect from 18^th July 2022. Limited data is available currently.

Digital education packages have been concentrated on 2 main spoke sites which have taken the majority if repatriated patients.

The vascular web page is accessible to all ABUHB sites and ongoing practical site training with complex wounds has developed staff competency to allow them to take these patients.

Virtual Reality (VR) has a growing evidence base for efficacy in treating mental health difficulties such as generalised anxiety disorder (Gorini et al., 2010, Valmaggia et al., 2016). VR is also being researched as a means to deliver mindfulness skills training for 10 minutes per day over a set time scale (Chandrasiri et al., 2020, Navarro-Haro et al., 2017).

Patients who are on our psychological treatment waiting list at Veterans NHS Wales have mental health conditions which typically have anxiety as a core component.

We became interested in the use of VR and wanted to understand if loaning Virtual Reality Masks (VRM) would be a beneficial intervention for our patients to use in the comfort of their own home whilst waiting for psychological treatment.

Project Aims and Objectives:

Aims: To establish the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of using a VRM as a treatment waiting list intervention for managing anxiety.
Objective: Participant to loan a VR mask and use daily at home over 2 weeks. Participant to select and watch one of the 4 preloaded 10 minute duration VR mindfulness clips.

Project Outcomes:

It is reported that 2 million people in the UK may be living with long COVID symptoms, and requiring support for that. The knowledge and understanding of the mechanics of post COVID syndrome and the effective treatments are increasing as time and research goes on, but the impact on the psychology of the individual remains the same.

The rationale for the project was to provide a general structured self-management education programme and follow up peer support to individuals who are still experiencing symptoms 12 weeks post infection. Providing this education at this point encourages self-management of symptoms, supporting individuals to navigate and access services in the most appropriate manner. The subsequent access to the ongoing peer support (Via the Mental Health Foundation (MHF)) will enable community capacity to be developed; emotional support from their peers and a forum to utilise their self-management skills going forward.

Project Aims/Objectives:

• Integration of the lay led structured education into the Long Covid Service in BCU as it emerges.

• Embed peer support into our communities, supported by robust information (validated by the HCP).

• Activate the individuals who take part in structured education to be empowered and enabled. Skilled to actively engaging as partners in their care and treatment.

Project Outcomes:

• Activated Patients working as partners in their own care and taking responsibility for the day to day management of their condition.

• A long COVID Self management programme has been developed and is routinely available across the BCU area, available to staff and patients.

• The Self Management Education is now routinely referred to from Primary Care at three months of symptoms.

The pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing health and access inequalities and many older adult patient groups in the community are experiencing reduced mobility, increased weakness and pain, and consistently low feelings. One in five older adults is experiencing a deterioration of memory since lockdown, with reduction of mental stimulation leading to forgetfulness and confusion. These factors―along with a reduction in physical activity, loss of social routine, and continued uncertainty―have meant that social anxiety and feelings of isolation and low mood are at an all-time high.  The Pembs OACMHT continue to see a higher rate of referrals for older people experiencing low mood and suicidal thoughts or intent. The OACMHT wanted to embrace technology and opportunities to improve on patient outcomes.

Project Aims:

• Reduce anxiety and depression, and decrease levels of distress in patients.

• Improved access to services for at risk groups.

• Increase evidence based practice utilising up to date technology and approaches.

Project Outcomes:

VR mental health interventions were provided to older people experiencing low mood and suicidal thoughts, to elevate mood and provide positive treatment outcomes.

Project Impact: