Article Text
Abstract
Introduction Despite robust evidence & guideline mandated recommendations, mortality & morbidity related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains high. CVD is the single biggest condition where lives can be saved by the NHS over the next 10 years.
The NHS long term plan has set ambitious targets to identify more people at risk of CVD through effective NHS health checks and upskilling of staff to improve detection & management of hypercholesterolemia and atrial fibrillation (AF). The project aimed in the West Midlands (WM) to provide educational programs to improve diagnosis and management of AF & hypercholesterolemia in primary care to help meet the targets of the NHS long term plan (LTP).
Methods The West Midlands Academic Health Science Network developed virtual practical upskilling workshops to be delivered to those healthcare professionals in primary care involved in diagnosis and management of AF & hypercholesterolaemia. The content of the workshops was designed to be uniform and highlights the ‘Detect, Protect & Perfect’ methodology. Detect: identification of people with AF & hypercholesterolemia. Protect: Modification of risks such as commencing statins or anticoagulation. Perfect: Ensure on-going optimisation of therapy with appropriate & timely monitoring.To develop & deliver the workshops there was collaboration with STP/ICS education and training hubs, University of North Midlands NHS trust & Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education. Local clinical experts from primary & secondary care delivered the workshops.Outcomes were assessed by pre & post workshop questionnaires. Delegates were asked about baseline knowledge and how this changed as well as the overall benefit of the workshops supporting meeting the targets of the NHS LTP.
Results 12 AF & 13 lipid management workshops with between 20–30 delegates per workshop were delivered between October & November 2021. There was varied baseline understanding reflecting the skill mix of healthcare professionals within primary care dealing with CVD. Post workshop questionnaires confirmed improvement in knowledge & understanding for both AF & Hypercholesterolemia (Table 1). Workshops were well received with an appetite for CVD learning & vital need for upskilling primary care teams to support the delivery of the NHS LTP.
Summarises the understanding of delegates pre and post workshops
Conclusion The workshops are unique in that they are in line with the national & regional aspiration to improve CVD outcomes and delivered by local experts delivering interactive real-life cases. Practice level date packs allowed easy to understand comparisons of practices with in PCNs or STPs which allowed sharing of good practice. This collaborative project showcased how stakeholders in the WM can work together to improve outcomes for patients with AF & hypercholesterolaemia. On-going analysis is required to assess if the workshops improve detection rates for AF & hypercholesterolaemia as well as improved prescribing of anticoagulation & lipid lower medication.
Conflict of Interest none