Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Planning for Frailty: Optimal Health and Social Care Workforce Organisation Using Demand-led Simulation Modelling

This project, called 'Planning for Frailty', looks at how many health and social care workers we need to support older people living with frailty now and in the future. As more people live longer, there's a growing need for care, and sometimes we don't have enough staff. This study will use a clever computer model to predict what kind of workforce will be needed. It brings together information from existing health records, opinions from the public and healthcare professionals, and a review of what's already known. The main goal is to create a tool that helps plan for the right number of staff with the right skills, ensuring high-quality care for older people as our population changes.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

University of Southampton

Enrolment target

50,000

Start

01 Nov 2022

Estimated completion

31 Oct 2025

Frailty in Aging Older People

What is this study about?

This study is called 'Planning for Frailty' and it's all about making sure older people who are living with frailty get the best possible care. Frailty means that someone's body isn't as strong or resilient as it used to be, which can make them more vulnerable to illness or falls. As more and more people in the UK are living longer, there's a growing need for caring support, from doctors and nurses to social care workers who help with daily tasks.

The research team noticed that sometimes there aren't enough healthcare and social care staff to meet this growing need. This study aims to help fix that by creating a special computer model. This model will use lots of different information – like health records, what people think about care, and what experts already know – to work out how many staff are currently needed and how many will be needed in the future, as our population continues to age. This will help healthcare planners make better decisions about staffing levels and training.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a useful guide or 'toolkit' for healthcare services. This toolkit will help them plan for the future, ensuring there are always enough skilled people to provide high-quality, kind, and effective care for older people with frailty. It’s all about being prepared so that everyone can get the support they need when they need it.

Key takeaways

The study focuses on planning for future healthcare needs for older people with frailty.
It uses computer modelling to predict how many health and social care staff will be needed.
No direct patient involvement like taking medicine or special appointments.
All health data used will be anonymised, meaning your personal identity is protected.
The goal is to improve future care quality by ensuring adequate staffing.
Eligibility is based on age (50+) and if your data is in the North West London NHS database.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking at information and data from people aged 50 and over. To be included, your health information needs to be part of a specific database used by the NHS in North West London.

Basically, if you are 50 years old or older and your healthcare records are linked to the North West London NHS Integrated Care System database, your anonymous information might be included in this study.

If you are under 50 years old, your data won't be used in this research.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 50 years old or older?
Do you receive healthcare services in North West London?
Is your health data part of the NHS Integrated Care System database for North West London?
Are you interested in how healthcare is planned for older people?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study does not involve you directly taking any medication, visiting a clinic, or having any personal assessments. This is a planning study that uses existing, anonymised information. This means the researchers will look at health and social care data that has already been collected, but they won't know who the data belongs to because all your personal details that could identify you will be removed. They will also gather opinions through surveys and discussions with the public and healthcare professionals. You would only be involved if you choose to take part in one of these anonymous surveys or discussions, but your health data would be looked at regardless if it meets the criteria.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study primarily uses existing, anonymised health and social care data and gathers opinions, there are no direct personal risks to participating individuals. Your identity will be kept private. The potential benefit is that the study's findings will help healthcare services better plan for the future, ensuring enough staff are available to care for older people with frailty. This could lead to improved services for many. If you choose to participate in a survey or discussion, you can withdraw your input at any time without any negative consequences.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University of Southampton
Verified postcode
Southampton, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is 'frailty'?

Frailty means your body is a bit more vulnerable and less able to bounce back from illness or stress than it used to be, which is common as we get older.

Will my personal health information be shared?

No, the study uses 'anonymised' information. This means all your personal details that could identify you are removed, so your data can't be linked back to you.

Do I need to do anything if my data is used?

No, if your data meets the criteria, it will be used automatically in an anonymised form. You don't need to do anything unless you're invited to take part in a survey or discussion.

How will this study help older people?

By helping health services plan better, this study aims to ensure there are enough skilled staff to provide good care for older people with frailty in the future.

Who is running this study?

This study is being led by researchers who are looking at how best to organise healthcare staff for older people.