QI 149 Increasing Referrals to the Children’s Cerebral Palsy Strengthening Group

Abstract

Aim: Increase the referral rate for the Cerebral Palsy strengthening group from 0% in March 2022 to 80% by September 2023.

A virtual group was set up in 2021 for children and young people with Cerebral Palsy. As Covid restrictions reduced there was a noted decrease in referrals and an increase in requests from parents to move the group from virtual to face to face. The project was initially set up in March 2022 to scope the barriers to referral and attendance and improve the referral rate into the group. Increasing referrals would mean that sufficient outcome measures could be collected to evaluate clinical effectiveness of treatment.

Tools Used: PDSA Cycles - https://aqua.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/qsir-pdsa-cycles-model-for-improvement.pdf; Driver Diagram - https://aqua.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/qsir-driver-diagrams.pdf; Sustainability Tool - https://aqua.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/qsir-sustainability-model.pdf.

Project Impact: The referral rate increased to 81% of the full capacity for the group. Seeing patients in a group rather than 1:1 has: Saved 18 hours of staff time per cohort (108 hours of clinical time saved over the last year). £373.74 has been saved per cohort. This equates to savings of £2242 over the last year and up to £2616 next year. Attendance at the groups has enabled us to collect and compare data through outcome measures. These have shown large clinical benefits which have been maintained when 1 year post group outcome measures have been repeated. Average improvement in 6 minute walk test (6MWT) scores for GMFCS 1 and 2 patients show a statistically significant improvement. The group has progressed to running face to face and since re-starting in January 2023 has successfully run with patients within each group and referral rates above 50% maintained in each cohort. All patient feedback has been positive. The average improvement in strength (MRC) showed increase or maintenance in all areas for each patient.