What evidence is there to demonstrate the effectiveness of Health and Social Care interventions and services in reducing pressures on the acute hospital system? Report 4 Service Innovations Background Research Rapid Reviews (SIBR3)

This is a report on currently available background research evidence relating to the effectiveness of health and social care interventions and services in reducing pressures on the acute hospital system.

In order to tackle the scope of this subject three mechanisms were adopted. These included:

a) reproducing existing reviews

b) updating previous studies

c) conducting new short reviews

The mechanisms adopted were dependant on the category being reviewed. The categories covered by this review are:

1) Intermediate care including communication and continuity of care across professional boundaries

2) Outcomes arising from interventions to reduce pressure on acute services