A Policy Briefing is available for LKS staff to share in their organisations.  Produced by the JET Library at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.  Feel free to reproduce it (with acknowledgement).

What does this mean for libraries? 

• As more NHS services move into community settings, LKS teams may be affected by changes to organisational structures.
• Evidence support may be required to transformation or management teams who wish to explore this issue further.

Source: RAND Corporation

Link to main document

Date of publication: 7^th July 2017

Summary of driver:  This study examined community hospital provision in the UK and other high income countries including Australia, Finland, Italy, Norway and Scotland, and identify the potential for community hospitals to perform an integrative role in the delivery of health and social care. The evidence reviews found that community hospitals can offer an effective and efficient alternative to acute hospitals. Patient experience was frequently reported to be better at community hospitals, and the cost-effectiveness of some models was found to be similar to that of general hospitals, although evidence was limited.  Community hospitals have the potential to assume a more strategic role in health-care delivery locally, providing care closer to people’s homes.

Tagged: Community hospitals, Community services