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Background/Aims: Care aims is a population-based, person-centred approach which provides a strategy encompassing the management of a service, informing the population, empowering the workforce around the service user and supporting the person and their family to manage their own lives wherever possible. This pilot study implemented the care aims framework into children's services using quality improvement methods. Methods: An audit of baseline data identified the referral process as an area for improvement in the service. Quality improvement techniques were used to design and test small cycles of change. Results: The results of the audit showed up to 25% of 'requests for help' received from various referrers were not appropriate for several reasons, including old forms and incomplete information. Five tests of change were implemented, which had a mixed impact. Conclusions: This pilot study can help other multidisciplinary teams who are implementing the care aims approach and looking to improve their referral processes in order to improve access to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the impact of the introduction of supplementary prescribing on patient care. Most important feature of the supplementary prescribing framework is the clinical management plan. This plan differs from a patient group direction in that there is no requirement for other parties to be involved in implementation of the plan. It is therefore clear that the success or failure of supplementary prescribing is dependent on the clinical management plan and relationships between independent and supplementary prescribers. Supplementary prescribing will enable allied health professionals to practice safely and legally within a specific framework with significantly less bureaucracy.