and hindering patient flow, for instance from hospital back to care homes.
We secured funding from Roche Diagnostics and Roche Products to implement a‘ test and treat’ flu community pathway pilot and provided project management for the delivery of the project as well as developing the necessary data sharing agreements and evaluation methodology.
The evaluation found that the rapid diagnostic test altered prescribing decisions in 21 of the 59 cases, with 6 out of the 9 cases( 66.7 %) that tested positive for flu being prescribed antivirals, and zero patients attending the emergency department within 30 days due to flu symptoms. The results are encouraging, suggesting an increased number of people received antiviral treatment compared to values previously reported in the literature, which can average 19 % and rise to 35 % of cases, when there is access to testing. The outcomes also suggest the pathways could avoid hospitalisations.
We provided qualitative data collection and analysis expertise via an anonymous survey and structured interviews, to capture the experiences of the workforce
41 Transforming Lives Through Innovation across all implementation sites. This identified several positive themes including:
• 100 % of surveyed staff indicated the benefit of having the test, with 78 % rating its usefulness as 5 out of 5.
• 61 % of responses were positive as to whether it helped guide the prescribing decision, and 66 % said it increased the patient’ s confidence in the decision.
• 72 % of responses were positive that it prevented unnecessary patient isolation.
This initiative aimed to determine whether fast, community-based diagnosis and treatment pathways that incorporated a rapid point of care test could help health care professionals make informed clinical decisions and provide appropriate treatment, potentially reducing deterioration and easing pressure on the health and care system.
Together with NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, we forged a dynamic multi-organisational team that combined resources and expertise
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For those patients who are vulnerable, it just means that we can nip it in the bud sooner rather than later and avoid any unnecessary secondary care admissions.”
“ It helps the staff to encourage the person to isolate as well. They might think,‘ oh, I don’ t really want to ask them to stay in the room, they’ re all right.’ But actually, if they can see a result straight away [ it takes away the uncertainty ].”
Quotes from healthcare staff involved in the pilot