Guidance

NHS population screening: submitting a case for shared learning

Published 7 April 2016

1. Purpose

This guidance explains the national mechanism for providers, commissioners and other stakeholders to share learning and good practice related to the NHS population screening programmes.

The screening quality assurance service (SQAS) and national screening programmes review all submissions and shares cases for shared learning on the PHE screening blog.

2. Categories

Cases for shared learning can include:

• examples of good practice – action(s) taken to achieve performance that is above achievable standards, or that provides measurable and demonstrable benefit to patients
• actions taken to improve efficiency – action(s) taken to increase efficiency and/or increased value for money, while demonstrating no loss in quality to the service
• performance improvement – action(s) taken that clearly lead to sustained improvement from the baseline performance
• examples of resolved issues – action(s) taken to address a specific problem or issue and a clearly described and documented resolution of the problem
• examples of unexpected outcomes – action(s) taken where the actual result was different from the specific outcome expected

3. Before you submit a case for shared learning

You will need to make sure:

• it fits into one or more of the categories above – if you are not sure, your regional screening quality assurance service can advise you
• it applies to a current screening pathway
• all relevant stakeholders have given consent for information to be shared
• no patient identifiable information is included
• outcomes are related to practice, ideally within the 12 months before submission

4. Writing your case for shared learning

Please state if you (the screening provider/commissioner) are willing to:

• be identified, or if the case study should remain anonymous
• share any supporting documents

You can choose:

• to be identified by name only
• to be identified by name and contact details to receive requests for more information directly
• not to be identified so the case is shared anonymously

You can find examples of cases for shared learning on the PHE screening blog. You should include the following information in your submission:

1. a brief summary of the case for shared learning (300-500 words)
2. the situation before any action was taken, including a data summary or other available evidence
3. details of the action(s) taken – what was done differently and when
4. results of the action(s), including any changes in practice
5. a brief analysis of data and performance changes (including dates) compared to the situation before any action was taken
6. any supporting evidence
7. name of local screening programme and any other organisations involved
8. your contact details, including your name, job title, email address and telephone number

5. Submitting your case for shared learning

Email your completed case for shared learning including all the information above to your regional SQAS team:

• London – phe.screeningqalondon@nhs.net
• Midlands and East – phe.screeningqamidsandeast@nhs.net
• North – phe.screeningqanorth@nhs.net
• South – phe.screeningqasouth@nhs.net

The SQAS team will confirm receipt of your submission and initiate the approval process. We will take the case for shared learning through an approval process.

The approval group will approve the case for shared learning, or return with detailed comment, within 4 weeks of receipt of the submission from the QA adviser.

If approved we will turn the case for shared learning into a blog and publish via the PHE screening blog.