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New models of health and social care for people in later life: mapping of innovation in services in two regions of the United Kingdom using a mixed method approach

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Nav Aujla, Professor Barbara HanrattyORCiD, Professor Eileen KanerORCiD, Professor Amy O'DonnellORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© The Author(s) 2024.Background: Innovation for reforming health and social care is high on the policy agenda in the United Kingdom in response to the growing needs of an ageing population. However, information about new innovations of care being implemented is sparse. Methods: We mapped innovations for people in later life in two regions, North East England and South East Scotland. Data collection included discussions with stakeholders (n = 51), semi-structured interviews (n = 14) and website searches that focused on technology, evaluation and health inequalities. We analysed qualitative data using framework and thematic analyses. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. Results: One hundred eleven innovations were identified across the two regions. Interviewees reported a wide range of technologies that had been rapidly introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and many remained in use. Digital exclusion of certain groups of older people was an ongoing concern. Innovations fell into two groups; system-level ones that aimed to alleviate systems pressures such as preventing hospital (re)admissions, and patient-level ones which sought to enhance health and wellbeing directly. Interviewees were aware of the importance of health inequalities but lacked data to monitor the impact of innovations on these, and evaluation was challenging due to lack of time, training, and support. Quantitative findings revealed that two thirds of innovations (n = 74, 67%) primarily focused on the system level, whilst a third (n = 37, 33%) primarily focused on the patient-level. Overall, over half (n = 65, 59%) of innovations involved technologies although relatively few (n = 12, 11%) utilised advanced technologies. Very few (n = 16, 14%) focused on reducing health inequalities, and only a minority of innovations (n = 43, 39%) had undergone evaluation (most of which were conducted by the service providers themselves). Conclusions: We found a wide range of innovative care services being developed for people in later life, yet alignment with key policy priorities, such as addressing health inequalities, was limited. There was a strong focus on technology, with little consideration for the potential to widen the health inequality gap. The absence of robust evaluation was also a concern as most innovations were implemented without support to monitor effectiveness and/or without plans for sustainability and spread.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Frost H, Tooman TR, Aujla N, Guthrie B, Hanratty B, Kaner E, O'Donnell A, Ogden ME, Pain HG, Shenkin SD, Mercer SW

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: BMC Health Services Research

Year: 2024

Volume: 24

Issue: 1

Online publication date: 15/07/2024

Acceptance date: 02/07/2024

Date deposited: 25/07/2024

ISSN (electronic): 1472-6963

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11274-8

DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11274-8

Data Access Statement: Most of the data supporting the findings of this project are provided in the Appendix in the Supplementary Files. The rest is available from the corresponding author, SWM, upon reasonable re


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
NIHR300616

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