Our Public Health theme cuts across the ARC to maximise the impact of health research for the population.
We focus on growing the body of what works to improve physical and mental health, through the prevention of ill-health, especially in marginalised populations.
Our priorities are for effective regional working in Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS), which embed national public health priorities; for example, examining and supporting health changes in deprived coastal and rural communities.
KSS holds specific geographic and population challenges, with isolated refugee, looked after children, the elderly, and the economically inactive all contributing to areas of coastal and rural deprivation, and its associated health risks.
We work closely with other themes, and Local Governments and Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) in Medway and Surrey.
Meet the Team
Theme Lead
Senior Research Fellow
Research Fellow
Projects
Discharge to Assess Pathways (D2A)
Does a discharge to assess programme introduced in England meet the quadruple aim of service improvement?
Researchers from the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) have published their findings following an evaluation of a local discharge to assess service. Across the country, discharge to assess pathways were given a significant boost in funding during Covid-19, expanding and extending their reach to further improve the appropriateness of long-term care needs following discharge from acute care. The pathway reduces acute length of stay by moving the point of detailed assessment for ongoing care from the acute hospital into the community with the full assessment 4-6 weeks post discharge. This allows for a period of rehabilitation prior to assessment of long term need within a more suitable environment for the assessment to take place.
Along with local recommendations for the service, the evaluation found evidence that the development of the service had met the fourth aim in the ‘quadruple aim’ of service improvement. Quadruple aim builds on the widely used triple aim (‘improving the experience of healthcare’, ‘reducing the cost of provision’ and ‘improving the wider health of the population’) by adding in ‘improving the work life of staff’. Very few papers have explicitly considered quadruple aim as an outcome framework.
Click here to view the publication
This initial evaluation has formed the basis for a wider study that is underway across a variety of places in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. This follow on study is focused on the community elements of the pathway and patient experience. It will make recommendations for good practice that are hoped to help inform other systems across the country.
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VIVALDI sub-study exploring the impact of outbreaks, and outbreak control measures, on residents using ASCOT tools
The VIVALDI sub-study is linked to the UCL-led Vivaldi Clinical Trial of regular testing of care home staff for COVID-19. The sub study aims to understand how chest infection outbreaks (including of COVID19) impact the quality of life of older people in care homes. We will interview 100 residents, including those with dementia, from 5 care homes with a recent outbreak and 5 care homes without. We will measure residents’ quality of life alongside measures of wellbeing, activities and loneliness. We will also carry out observations in communal spaces to understand the impact of outbreaks on the residents’ use of space and social interactions. The study has been presented at conferences, arousing the interest of policymakers and practitioners. This will inform how we manage future outbreaks of chest infections in care homes.
