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Right Decision Service newsletter: October 2024

Welcome to the Right Decision Service (RDS) newsletter for October 2024.

1.Contingency arrangements for RDS outages

Development of the contingency solutions to maximise RDS resilience and minimise risk of future outages is in progress, aiming for completion by Christmas. As a reminder, these contingency arrangements  are:

  • Optimising mobile app build process
  • Mobile app always to be downloadable.
  • Serialising builds to mobile app; separate mobile app build from other editorial and end-user processes
  • Load balancing – provides failover (also enables separation of editorial processes from other processes to improve performance.)

 

In the meantime, a gentle reminder to encourage users to download essential clinical toolkits to their mobile devices so that there is an offline version always available.

 

2. New deployment with improvements.

A new scheduled deployment with minor improvements drawn from support tickets, externally funded projects, information related to outages, and feature requests will take place in early December. Key improvements planned are:

  • Deep-linking to individual toolkits within the RDS mobile app. Each toolkit will now have its own direct URL and QR code, both accessible from the app. These can be used to download the toolkit directly where users already have the RDS app installed. If the user does not yet have the RDS app installed, they will be taken to the app store to install the app and immediately afterwards the toolkit will automatically open and download. Note that this will go live a few days later than the improvements below due to the need to link up the mobile front end to the changes in the content management system.
  • Introducing an Announcement Header field to replace the hardcoded "Announcements and latest updates" text. This will enable users to see at a glance the focus of new announcements.
  • Automated daily emptying of the recycling bin (with a 30 day rolling grace period)  in the content management system. A bug preventing complete emptying of the recycling bin contributed to one of the outages earlier this year.
  • Supporting multiple passcodes (ticket 6079)
  • Expanding accordion section to show location of a search result rather than requiring user coming from a search result to manually open all sections and search again for the term.
  • Displaying first accordion section Content text as a snippet on the search results page as a fallback if default/main content is not provided
  • Displaying the context of each search result in the form of a link to the relevant parent tool/section. This will help users to choose which search result is most likely to be appropriate for their needs.
  • As part of release of the new national benzodiazepine quality prescribing guidance toolkit sponsored by Scottish Government Effective Prescribing and Therapeutics, a digital tool to support creation of benzodiazepine tapering/withdrawal schedules.

We are also seeking approval to use the NHS Scotland logo and title for the RDS app on the app stores to help with audience engagement and clarity around the provenance of RDS.

3. RDS Search, Browse and Archive/Version control enhancements

We are still hopeful that user acceptance testing for at least the Search and browse enhancements can take place before Christmas. Thank you for your patience and understanding in waiting for these improvements. Timescales have been pushed back by old app migration challenges, work to address outages, and most recently implementing the contingency arrangements.

4. Support tickets

We are aware that there continue to be some issues around a number of RDS support tickets, in part due to constraints around visibility for the RDS team of the tickets in the existing  support portal. We are investigating the potential to move to a new support ticket requesting system from early in the new year. We will organise the proposed webinar around support ticket processes once we have confirmed the way forward with the system.

Table formatting

There is a known issue with alterations in formatting of some RDS tables which seems to have arisen as a result of the 17 October deployment. Tactuum is working on a fix and on implementing additional regression testing to prevent this issue recurring.

5. New RDS toolkits

Recently launched toolkits include:

NHS Lothian Infectious Diseases

Scottish Health Technologies Group – Technology Assessment recommendations

NHS Tayside Anaesthetics and Critical Care projects – an innovative toolkit which uses PowerAutomate to manage review and response to proposals for improvement projects.

If you would like to promote one of your new toolkits through this newsletter, please contact ann.wales3@nhs.scot

A number of toolkits are expected to go live before Christmas, including:

  • Focus on dementia
  • Highland Council Getting it Right for Every Child
  • Dumfries and Galloway Adult Support and Protection procedures
  • National Waiting Well toolkit
  • Fertility Scotland National Network
  • NHS Lothian postural care for care homes

6.Sign up to RDS Editors Teams channel

We have had a good response to the recent invitation to sign up to the new Teams channel for RDS editors. This provides a forum for editors to share learning, ideas and questions and we hope to hold regular webinars on topics of interest.  The RDS team is in the process of joining participants to the channel and we’d encourage all editors to take part, using the registration form – available in Providers section of the RDS Learning and Support area.

 

7. Evaluation projects

The RDS team has worked with colleagues in NHS Grampian and the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre to evaluate the impact of the Prevent the progress of diabetes web and mobile app in a small-scale pilot project. This app provides access to local and national resources and services targeted at people with prediabetes, a history of gestational diabetes, or candidates for remission. After just 8 weeks of using the app, 94% of patients reported increased their knowledge and understanding of diabetes, and 88% said it had increased their confidence and motivation to make lifestyle changes, highlighting specific behaviour changes. The learning from this project is informing development of a service model based on tailored support for patient groups with, high, medium and low digital self-efficacy.

Please contact ann.wales3@nhs.scot if you would like to know more about this project.

  1. Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:

  • Friday 29th November 3-4 pm
  • Thursday 5 December 3.30 -4.30 pm

To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)

 

To invite colleagues to sign up to receive this newsletter, please signpost them to the registration form  - also available in End-user and Provider sections of the RDS Learning and Support area.   If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot  If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.

With kind regards

 

Right Decision Service team

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

 

The Right Decision Service:  the national decision support platform for Scotland’s health and care

Website: https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk    Mobile app download:  Apple  Android

 

 

Disclaimer

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) provides the ‘CfSD Neurology’ app/website to help the people it serves across Scotland. Each individual participating organisation which contributes resources to the App/Website has sole responsibility for the information created or published by them. Any information appearing on the App/Website is issued as general information, is not warranted by the CfSD, nor should it be taken as advice. No responsibility can be accepted by the CfSD or any other organisation for action or inaction as a result of information contained on the App/Website. Users should take advice from health and care professionals in respect of specific situations. The use and access of pages of the App/Website is subject to the terms and conditions set out below and by this disclaimer. By using or accessing the App/Website, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Links to other websites and applications

The provision on the App/Website of a link to another website or application does not constitute any authorisation to access material held at that location. Links to sites are provided for informational purposes only and no responsibility is accepted for the quality of resources to be found on such websites. The contents and material made available on linked sites are completely out with the CfSD’s control and as such no liability is accepted for any loss or damage resulting from accessing or failing to access these sites. No endorsement is expressed or implied by the presence of a link on the  App/Website. The contents of a linked-to website may change without the CfSD’s knowledge and as a result, links may break or may terminate on pages which were not the original targets of a link. No responsibility or liability for the privacy of personal information is accepted for linked to websites, as these are beyond the Board’s control.

Warranties

The resources contained on the App/Website, including all files that are authorised for public and password-protected download or access, are provided on an “as is” basis and without any warranties. No warranty is given that files downloaded or accessed from the  App/Website are free of computer viruses. No warranties are made as to fitness for purpose, quality or completeness of information. The App/Website excludes any liability for any errors in or omissions in information provided on or linked to from the App/Website.

Reliability of information

The CfSD uses reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of information on the App/Website in accordance with the policies defined for the App/Website . However, no guarantees are made that the information contained on the App/Website  or associated, or linked to websites is accurate, complete and current at any given time. Information presented on the App/Website  or associated sites may be changed at any time. The resources made available on the App/Website are intended to assist  and support people to best manage their mental health and related needs. The App/Website is not intended in any way to replace the advice of health and care professionals. Nothing on the App/Website is intended to constitute advice. Specific advice should be sought in specific situations from a properly qualified health or care professional. Content on the App/Website is governed by a number of policies and guidelines. Users of the App/Website should inform the web team using the Feedback form  if they should come across any material contained which they consider to be potentially in breach of any of the published  Scottish Government or NHS Scotland policies or of any relevant legislation in order for the appropriate remedial action to be taken.

Availability of the App/Website

Although the App/Website has been tested and should work correctly under normal circumstance, there are many factors both within and outside of the control of the Board which may prevent the App/Website from being available to users of the world-wide-web. No responsibility is accepted by the Board for any losses that may arise from an inability to access resources on the App/Website. Where a user finds a specific error in the coding of a web page, or where they consider a page to be in breach of accessibility or other published policies of the App/Website, the user should notify the web team via the feedback form in order that appropriate action may be taken.

Governing laws

The terms and conditions of use of the App/Website shall be governed by the laws of Scotland.

 

Purpose and audience

The Scottish Government commissions the Centre for Sustainable Delivery to support a Neurology Specialty Delivery Group (SDG) to develop a number of 'Once for Scotland' pathways to reduce unwarranted variation and sustainably improve waiting times for non-urgent care.

Our Neurology SDG brings together clinical, operational and managerial experts from across NHS Scotland and Scottish Government. Membership includes a nominated clinical, nursing and management lead from all NHS Scotland Boards providing Neurology services.

Purpose: to provide key information on the diagnosis, investigation and management of neurological conditions in one location to improve patient management, reduce unwarranted variation and sustainably improve waiting times for non-urgent care.

Audience: May vary on pathway but would generally include Prescribing Pharmacists, General Practitioners, General Practitioners with specialist interest, Physicians in ED and Acute Medicine, Neurologists etc.

Please note that while this toolkit is available for members of the public to access, it should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

 

Governance

The Scottish Government commissions the Centre for Sustainable Delivery to support a Neurology Specialty Delivery Group (SDG) to develop a number of 'Once for Scotland' pathways to reduce unwarranted variation and sustainably improve waiting times for non-urgent care.

Our Neurology SDG brings together clinical, operational and managerial experts from across NHS Scotland and Scottish Government. Membership includes a nominated clinical, nursing and management lead from all NHS Scotland Boards providing Neurology services.

 

Key author, reviewer and approver roles

Author will be named on each distinct pathway, content will be reviewed by SDG, and approved by the CfSD Sign off Group.

 

Details of clinical review of content at point of publication

A review is undertaken and included in each distinct pathway

 

Arrangements for review and updating of content - including responsibilities and planned review date(s)

Review dates will be assigned to each pathway, reviewed by SDG, and updated by the National Improvement Advisor as required

 

Outline of process used for systematic sourcing and evaluation of evidence to underpin the toolkit

A Pathway Development Group is established for each new pathway. This is comprised of various clinical experts. The Groups hold meetings via MS Teams where members bring forward and discuss evidence base and best practice to form the basis of the pathway.

The contents of this Neurology app are overseen by the SDG, who have responsibility for ensuring that content is current and correct, regularly reviewed and updated as required, as well as scrutinising and approving any new content for publication.

 

Details of the governance body and process which approved content and the toolkit at point of go-live

All pathways are developed and agreed by a Pathway Development Group, approved by the Specialty Delivery Group (SDG), and signed off by the CfSD Sign Off Group

 

Details of the governance arrangements for ongoing development and updating of the toolkit

As above

 

Confirmation that any guidance within the toolkit that references medicines has been signed off by the local Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee for territorial Boards or an equivalent governance group for national resources

All clinical content (including information relevant to drugs) are developed in accordance with the CfSD pathway development process. This includes approval by experts on the relevant Specialty Delivery Group and subsequent review and endorsement by the CfSD Primary Care Secondary Care Interface Group and CfSD Pathway Approval Group.

 

Risks to safety of patients/service users have been identified and mitigated

EQIA will be undertaken for each pathway, where any issues would be identified and mitigations put in place.

 

Functional testing, usability testing and user acceptance testing have been carried out

Pathways are developed and scrutinised by clinical leads from ach Board. Boards are asked to share data and experience of implementation of new pathways with SDG quarterly as relevant, with a view to refining and improving.

 

A plan has been defined for monitoring and acting on feedback and complaints

The Neurology Clinical Lead, Workstream Lead, and National Improvement Advisor would be responsible for managing any feedback or complaints arising.

 

Copyright

The content of this toolkit complies with copyright legislation, all sources appropriately referenced and permission obtained for reuse of content.

Copyright © Centre for Sustainable Delivery 2023

This excludes the works of 3rd parties as listed below:

  • Stephen Silberstein

All icons are sourced from Flaticon.com, accessed through the licence held by Tactuum Ltd as software provider of the RDS platform. 

 

Accessibility

The content of this resource has been produced in line with web accessibility standards. For information on the accessibility of the Right Decision Service platform technology, see the "About this site" page.

 

Key contact

Enquiries: gjnh.cfsdpmo@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk

 

Keep up to date:

www.nhscfsd.co.uk

www.twitter.com/nhsscotcfsd

www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-sustainable-delivery

 

Feedback

If you have any feedback or comments about this app, please take the time to complete our feedback form below: