OBJECTIVES

: In the UK, increasing numbers of older people are living with long-term conditions, that is contributing to an increased pressure on health and social care systems and on the number of hospital beds. The NHS England Test Bed programme has been designed to trial new approaches to this problem through new models of care that are supported by health technologies. The Lancashire Care Innovation Alliance Test Bed is one of those programmes. Our objective is to report on the use of resources and HRQoL of frail older people with long-term conditions (diabetes, HF and COPD) recruited into the study.

METHODS

: Participants were recruited to receive a combination of technologies for a period of six months. Through a questionnaire, anonymised information was collected at baseline, W12 and W24, for each participant concerning sociodemographic characteristics and use of health care services (hospital, primary care and social care services, and medicines). Validated instruments to assess HRQoL and wellbeing were used including PAMS, WEMWBs and the EQ-5D-5L.

RESULTS

: CONCLUSIONS

: The new model of care shows that technology has helped patients to gain access to health care addressing previously unmet clinical needs. Validated HRQoL and wellbeing instruments did not show significant changes but patients reported increased confidence in managing their health as a result of the TB programme.