1 March 2024

QI snapshot: Patient transport

A photograph of a young man in a wheelchair being elevated up to the back of a mini bus by another man who is supporting him.

What is a QI Snapshot?

Our QI Snapshots provide a quick bite-sized summary from some of the teams we've assisted. Read below how Pulmonary Services developed a programme to encourage more uptake of their 7-week rehab program by tackling transport issues.

Improvement Name: Patient Transport Program

Date: March 2024

Deep Dive:

Patients enrolled in the 7-week Pulmonary Rehab Programme are obligated to attend clinic twice a week throughout the programme duration. The responsibility of transportation to and from the clinic falls on the service user. Although the clinic is situated in the town centre, it necessitates a short walk from the nearest bus stop, involving crossing a flyover, which may pose challenges for some service users with respiratory problems. Notably, some service users resorted to paying for taxi services, with one individual incurring a £24 taxi fee for each appointment.

Transportation emerged as a significant hurdle for patients facing financial constraints, lacking driving capabilities, lacking access to a lift, or experiencing mobility issues. In response to these challenges, some service users would decline the programme.

Problem: Service users who are faced with transportation difficulties will often decline the 7-week Pulmonary Rehab Programme.

Goal:
To remove the barrier around transport, ensuring that this is not the sole reason for a patient to decline the 7-week Pulmonary Rehab Programme.

Design:

Look for and apply for funding opportunities
Review data around the decline of service due to transport
Develop inclusion criteria
Utilise use appointed designated drivers
Develop a management plan.

Deliver:

The bid for funding was successful (Public Health England Funds)
Patients were contracted with transport offers and added to the programme where consent was obtained.
A schedule was developed along with a booking and administration process.

Results:

PHE Funding will provide this service on a 1-year trial. This includes a driver, car maintenance and fuel costs.
The initiative went live on 4th January 2024.
5 patients to date have benefited from the offer of transport with future cohorts identified.
Although the numbers are small, the feedback from staff, drivers and service users has been positive.

Evolve

Plans to offer this out to other clinic-based appointments to increase productivity and decrease dropout rates.
A patient survey is being developed to capture ongoing feedback.