Implementation of 10 high-impact initiatives in urgent and emergency care in England: a rapid exploration (UEC)

Phase 1 (February – April 2024)

Our aim was to rapidly investigate the implementation and impact of innovations adopted in NHS health and care systems as part of the Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Recovery Programme.

Over ten weeks, we investigated the implementation and perceived impact of ten ‘high impact’ initiatives prioritised in NHS health and care systems under the UEC Recovery Plan.

We conducted:

• an online survey of systems and providers;
• follow-up interviews with systems and providers.

The result of this activity can be read in our insights report. The second phase of this evaluation is currently in development.

Phase 2 (August 2024 – July 2025)

Further evaluation is required to assess the implementation and impact of these high impact initiatives to inform decision-making and future delivery.

Using a mixed-methods approach, we will combine national-level analysis with in-depth exploration of local implementation across multiple case sites. This will allow us to:

• identify clusters of high impact initiatives implemented across NHS Trusts in England;
• examine trends in UEC performance over time;
• assess the potential impact of initiative delivery on performance changes.

At a more detailed level, we will analyse the core components of these initiatives, exploring how they interact with each other, as well as with other services and processes, to drive change.

• Download the protocol for this evaluation