Implementation Checklist

A checklist for implementing a hub-based access model

It is recommended the following essential actions to ensure effective project set-up, design, and delivery:

Engage early and widely. Map out all relevant stakeholders and develop an engagement plan to ensure they are fully involved. Ensure your governance structure supports a collaborative and inclusive approach throughout the project’s development

Define your objectives and approach. Spend time collectively diagnosing and distilling the problems you are looking to solve and stress-test a range of approaches. Be open-minded and agnostic throughout this process.

Be aware of the technical implications of change. Identify what combination of systems will be used, then define what functionality you need them to have and what technical limitations may need to be accommodated within the scope.

Model your resourcing needs carefully. Assuming your chosen model involves investing in a central hub resource, use historic data to create modelling assumptions about how much capacity is necessary to meet demand.

Set a clear and realistic scope for the new services. Remember that it may be necessary to make certain trade-offs to ensure you deliver something sustainable, so think carefully about what the inclusion and exclusion criteria may be based on the chosen workforce mix.

Invest in the skills you need. Identify team members with previous experience of working in clinical environments and/or leading successful change projects. Consider recruiting in skills you may be lacking, e.g. digital transformation expertise.

Build the right foundations for delivery. Successful PCN hub projects have benefited from having strong project management discipline, a clear and replicable approach to clinical governance, and highly tailored training and support for onboarding staff.

Involve patients throughout the process. The PCN may initially work through individual practice-level patient participation groups (PPGs) to discuss the new model but should broaden this scope with a new PCN-level PPG which provides advice and feedback on all PCN-delivered services.

Take advantage of available NHS funding. The PCN may be able to obtain NHS offered resources in order to help support this new model approach and should work closely with their ICB to support delivering this model.

Create standards operating procedures to guide delivery (SOPs). The PCN should develop SOPs to ensure there was a consistent approach to how hub services operate and what inclusion/exclusion criteria are followed.