An acute care collaboration vanguard: translating a perioperative service from a tertiary referral centre to a district general hospital (DGH)

Abstract

To translate the Proactive care of Older People undergoing Surgery service (POPS) from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) to Dartford and Gravesham Foundation Trust (DGT). POPS at GSTT has demonstrated geriatrician-led perioperative care improves outcomes and reduces length of stay. Vanguard status between GSTT and DGT facilitated scoping work which demonstrated a local vascular POPS service at DGT would improve user-experience and service accessibility. It was hypothesised that implementing POPS would improve patient, clinician, and processreported outcomes at DGT.