In its first year, the Future Hospital Programme (FHP) led projects looking at specific recommendations and principles outlined in the Future Hospital Commission. These projects have either been developed by the FHP team or other teams within the RCP (with the support of the FHP).
Putting principles into practice
Reflecting on the FHP’s first year, RCP president Professor Jane Dacre discusses the challenges facing physicians, the importance of keeping momentum when making improvements to health services and how they can be involved in the FHP.
A lot of physicians are doing something very innovative and which fits in the Future Hospital concept in their local health economy.
Completed projects
- Shared decision making and support for self-management: The shared decision making and support for self-management (SDM and SSM) programme, funded by the Health Foundation for 3 years, came to an end in December 2015. This project raised the profile of shared decision making and support for self-management at the RCP and among clinicians, provided training to NHS teams, and successfully embedded SDM and SSM into RCP activities, ensuring that it remains a key priority.
- Transition of young adults and adolescents: The FHP team worked with the Young Adults and Adolescents Steering Group to produce a toolkit on acute care for young adults. A policy report highlighting the need for improvements to care for young adults and adolescents who are entering adult services for the first time was also published.
- Review of integrated care: The FHP worked with Dr Anne Dornhorst to review current models of integrated diabetes care, exploring how outcomes are improved for patients by better working across care sectors. This work led to the publication of the Integrated care – taking specialist medical care beyond the hospital walls report.
