What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to the theme of 'How can we improve across system boundaries?​

Our project provides equitable wound care for the most vulnerable and marginalised in our community, focusing on the homeless and those struggling with substance misuse. We aim to transcend traditional healthcare boundaries by delivering services in community spaces like The Mission in Huddersfield, where these individuals feel most secure. This initiative is a prime example of improving across system boundaries, as it integrates wound care with community support structures to enhance accessibility, reduce hospital visits, and promote a holistic care approach. Aligned with Locala’s Service Transformation Strategy and the Kirklees Health and Care Partnership’s objectives, our project seeks to diminish health inequalities and improve patient outcomes through a collaborative, community-focused effort. By expanding services, providing clinician training, and partnering with local entities, we’re ensuring that vulnerable groups receive essential care within their community using our clinical van, showcasing an innovative model for systemic improvement through enhanced accessibility and service integration.

What does your project aim to achieve?

Our project aims to significantly reduce healthcare inequalities by providing accessible and effective wound care to the most vulnerable members of the Kirklees community, particularly targeting homeless individuals and those with substance misuse issues. By expanding our wound care service beyond traditional healthcare settings into community spaces like The Mission in Huddersfield and and Change Grow Live (substance misuse service), we strive to ensure that those hard-to-reach patients receive the care they need in environments where they feel safe. This approach aims to decrease emergency department visits by offering timely and appropriate wound care, improving overall patient outcomes. Additionally, the project seeks to create a sustainable model of care that can be replicated across other regions, promoting a more inclusive healthcare system that effectively reaches across system boundaries to provide equitable care to all, regardless of their circumstances.

How will the project be delivered?

The project will be delivered through a collaborative approach, leveraging partnerships with local organisations such as The Mission in Huddersfield and Change Grow Live (substance misuse service), to provide wound care services directly within community spaces frequented by our target population. Locala’s team of trained clinicians will conduct regular wound care clinics at these non-traditional settings, ensuring continuity of care for vulnerable groups. Outreach efforts will be supported by comprehensive training for our clinicians on the specific needs of marginalised populations, alongside the development of a collaborative protocol with partners to ensure a holistic care approach. The project will also utilise mobile health technology to track patient care and outcomes, facilitating efficient coordination and communication among care providers. This integrated delivery model is designed to be adaptable, allowing for expansion to additional sites and the incorporation of feedback from patients and community partners to continuously improve service provision.

How is your project going to share learning?

Learning from the project will be systematically captured and shared both locally and nationally to inspire broader adoption of similar models. We plan to document our processes, challenges, and successes through detailed case studies and regular progress reports. These will be disseminated through healthcare networks, including the Q community, professional healthcare forums, and conferences. Additionally, we aim to publish our case study and findings in healthcare journals to reach a wider audience of practitioners and policymakers interested in reducing healthcare inequalities. Webinars and workshops will be organised to engage directly with other healthcare providers, sharing insights and practical guidance on implementing similar outreach programs. By fostering a culture of open communication and collaboration, we hope to contribute to the collective knowledge on effective strategies for delivering care to vulnerable populations, encouraging innovation and improvement across the healthcare system.