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Objectives This QI project aimed to: Facilitate easy access to nationally endorsed information to empower children, young people and their families to live healthy lifestyles and self-manage their health conditions. Facilitate cost effective, time sensitive sharing of information in an accessible format for the Gen Z target audience Make every contact with healthcare professionals count. Support embedding poverty proofing into health care settings Reduce paper waste in clinical settings by creating an online alternative to leaflets. To act as a frugal innovation – a small scale change which 'does more with less for more people', in line with current climate change agendas.1 Methods A QR code directory was created in January 2022 containing links to resources which are nationally endorsed and in line with NHS England's Core20Plus5 framework and poverty proofing agendas. It was created using Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Chrome QR code generator. It was made easily available to the whole paediatric team, in 7 outpatient clinic rooms, the paediatric day unit and paediatric A+E, as an online and physical file. Feedback was taken from staff and families regularly throughout the first year. A formal review was undertaken in October 2023. After consulting widely with the paediatric team via a questionnaire and team meetings, the QR code directory was redesigned with verification and addition of resources. This completed the Plan-Do- Study-Act audit cycle. Results The feedback from the first edition of the QR code directory was overwhelmingly positive, it won a regional poster award for innovation and has recently been mentioned by NHS Providers in their health inequalities programme.2 Clinicians report using it on a regular basis, many of which in multiple clinics per week. 100% of which agreed or strongly agreed that it was a useful resource to have in clinic, that was easy to use and it saved clinical time. Additional resources were suggested and added, improving the breadth of areas in the QR code directory. There are now over 160 separate links with 26 sections, including resources for a variety of common conditions, physical and mental health, transition support services, local services and discreet guidance on how to access financial support and welfare benefits. Conclusion This quality improvement project has been a simple, yet effective implementation that has optimised clinical time and reduced waste. The directory could be easily replicated and adapted for any paediatric unit and their local services. References Brown C, Bhatti Y, Harris M. Environmental sustainability in healthcare systems: role of frugal innovation. BMJ 2023; 383 :e076381 Reducing health inequalities faced by children and young people. NHS Providers. Available at: https://nhsproviders.org/reducing-health-inequalities-faced-by-children-and-young-people (Accessed: 30 October 2023).
Reid et al. (Tue,) studied this question.