Pre-consultation research explained
Author: CIM MMG
Transformation of care services in the North and Mid Hampshire area.
Holly Shiel-Redfern, Commercial Director at Explain Market Research discusses the market research process undertaken for West Hampshire and North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), to ensure robust and representative insight was collected.
The client
After supporting Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) with a programme of independent research in 2016, Explain was commissioned in the summer of 2017 by West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), North Hampshire CCG and HHFT, to build on previous engagement. This group of organisations together comprises the team committed to a transformation of care services in the North and Mid Hampshire area.
The need
The Transforming Care Services programme team is looking at how acute health services in North and Mid Hampshire can be transformed to best meet the changing needs of the region’s population. This could involve centralisation of acute care and consultant-led maternity services, therefore it was crucial that patients, the public and other stakeholders were proactively involved in the formulation of proposals for change from the pre-consultation stage and throughout.
Explain was commissioned to conduct independent research and engagement across the region, to ensure robust and representative insight was collected. The research focused on gathering and understanding the views of local people in relation to the possible outcomes of changes to acute services, and understanding any concerns they had. In addition, it was crucial that all voices within local communities were heard, and therefore our research sought to engage with hard to reach and seldom heard groups, who typically cannot be engaged through traditional research.
The outcome
Explain delivered a comprehensive programme of research, using a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to deliver both a robust statistical evidence base and insightful verbatim feedback. Findings were presented to senior stakeholders, including representatives of other local Trusts, local authority leaders, and representatives of NHS England. Heather Hauschild, Chairman, Transforming Care Services in North and Mid Hampshire Programme Board and Chief Officer, West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group commented; “Explain Market Research carried out essential research for our programme within a tight timescale, meeting all our targets and expectations.”
The Patient Public Reference Group was also engaged throughout the project from inception - with involvement in development of our approach and research tools - through to delivery of results.
The findings will contribute to the ongoing development of proposals for these services, demonstrating the importance of robust and reliable engagement to ensure the views of local people are considered.