In addition to training and developing the ACP community, Kids’ Health Matters also contributes to paediatric service redesign and improved models of children’s health care across the UK. Check out some of our case studies to see how we make things happen.
The Salford Children’s Community Partnership provided a general practice-based alternative to A&E through
advanced paediatric nurse practitioners (APNPs) providing high-quality care for children with common acute conditions in the community. This project aimed to reduce paediatric short stay hospital admissions by providing enhanced illness assessment and management within general practice. Children were referred to a community clinic from any of five local GP practices if they met the ‘acutely unwell child’ inclusion criteria. Assessment and treatment was initiated by APNPs as an alternative to hospital-based care.
Evidence from their evaluation showed that satisfaction scores on a nationally validated assessment tool (GPAQ survey) were almost double the national benchmark scores for service quality in general practice. It also resulted in a 38% reduction in the total spend on paediatric acute
admissions in the participating practices (unpublished data from Salford Children’s Community Partnership).
Kids' Health Matters is working with HEE and other key stakeholders to help shape the training and education for advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) that will be caring for infants, children and young people across the NHS. Higher Education Institutions, NHS leadership, managers, clinicians, young people, carers and families are all coming together to help collaboratively define the academic and clinical preparation for theses exciting and multi-professionals roles. What a privilege to be part of those conversations! More to come soon, so watch this space.
Together, Kids' Health Matters and Improving Me (the Cheshire and Merseyside Women's and Children's Service Partnership) have designed a Governance Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice: Paediatrics and Neonates. The Framework outlines a pathway for paediatric and neonatal ACP career development (from trainee to consultant level) and provides a model for organisational assessment of service-specific competencies. There are also exemplar job descriptions and person specifications for both trainees and credentialed ACPs. To download the Framework and Career Development Pathway, go to http://www.kidshealthmatters.org.uk/acp-development/paedneo-acp-governance-document/.