Abstract
Introduction
The POPS (Perioperative medicine for Older People undergoing Surgery) service at Wye Valley NHS Trust has been established since August 2024. During this year, the service has been evolving, and we have been evaluating its impact. This has also involved working with NHS Elect through the POPS-SUp project. As well as the data we have gathered, during the past year there have been many learning points about starting a new service.
Method
Throughout this year we have used quality improvement methodology to help shape our projects, such as driver diagrams and statistical process control charts. When analysing our data, we are working with data analysts at the trust as well as with NHS Elect.
Results
The results from our quality improvement projects are still in process. However, we have seen improvements in compliance with NELA targets, and we have been able to analyse data from patients seen in POPS pre-operative clinics. Some learning points since starting the service have been the importance of engaging stakeholders and building relationships with colleagues for collaborative working.
Conclusion
There are many challenges in establishing a new service, which include demonstrating impact. We are in the process of being able to show this with the data we are collecting, and have made good progress so far. Developing good working relationships with colleagues from a variety of disciplines has been crucial in embedding the POPS service as routine part of working at Wye Valley. Furthermore, with the help of these colleagues, we have been able to “socialise” the POPS service, helping to increase awareness within the trust and wider areas. This ongoing work will help to ensure the sustainability of the POPS service at Wye Valley.