FCA presents alongside The Health Foundation on the role of QI during the pandemic

Key speakers discuss ways to maintain and improve healthcare services amidst COVID-19

Tom Downes, Clinical Lead for the Flow Coaching Academy (FCA), joined Quality Improvement specialists Bryan Jones, Laura Semple, and Jo Scott from The Health Foundation (THF) in an impressive line-up at this years’ Health Services Research (HSR) UK Online Conference.

Dubbed the UK’s leading event for the health services research community, the FCA and its colleagues from THF discussed how quality improvement (QI) approaches have helped maintain and improve healthcare services during the pandemic.

The session was well received and covered why taking a long-term approach to capability was important, how the application of QI methods in daily practice has helped NHS organisations be resilient when responding to COVID-19, and how Flow Coaching methodology is helping front line staff from across the UK improve patient flow by using QI and team coaching skills.

“It is very heartening to learn how colleagues across the FCA network and beyond have applied QI skills and mindsets to tackle the challenges posed by the pandemic, and to consider what we can all learn from those experiences for the future.”

Laura Semple, Assistant Director for Improvement programmes at THF

Tom Downes said “Over the past five years we have developed a strong working link with The Health Foundation, and it has been fantastic to join them in presenting some key ideas about how we can all use quality improvement and coaching skills to improve healthcare services at such a difficult time.

Tom Downes said “I hope those who attended the session found it useful and are at a place where they can begin to look forward in terms of recovery after the pandemic.”

The HSR UK Conference took place online between the 6-8 July 2021 and was attended by over 3,000 people. The event covered key topics including: the future of the NHS Workforce; diversity and inclusion in health and care research, science, evidence, and Government policy.