Hospital at Night 2008 UK Implementation Survey Report
The Hospital at Night 2008 UK Implementation Survey was the second major assessment of progress since Hospital at Night (HaN) was introduced in 2004. In 2006 the original survey report for England only found that 48% of NHS trusts had started to or implemented HaN.
Almost 80% of NHS trusts across England, Wales and Scotland have adopted the HaN method of team working according to a survey.
The report showed that HaN was becoming well established and mainstream across the NHS in the UK. Since its origins in 2003/4, when it was piloted with four NHS trusts it was, at the time of this report, being implemented across each of the four countries in the UK. Furthermore interest for HaN went beyond the UK, with active implementation in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand and there was increasing interest across EU member states.
The survey assessed the impact of the model across the NHS and looked at how trusts were adopting or using the multiprofessional model. The survey asked a total of 58 questions relating to nine enablers of HaN, which include aspects such as clinical leadership, handover, clinical audit, training and clinical and risk governance. As well as providing new opportunities and enhanced roles for nursing staff, some hospital trusts which use the model reported a reduction in clinical incidents.
The report shows a positive change in the number of acute hospitals who were implementing the concept. The report also shows that mental health providers were embracing the HaN approach and utilising it to support better patient care out of hours. Those NHS organisations using the HaN model were taking it further. Many early implementers had moved beyond the night, taking it to a 24:7 approach. By applying the principles of multiprofessional teamwork they developed the model to support pathways of care as part of ongoing service delivery.
The report recommends that NHS organisations use a multiprofessional cross cover team approach and implement in more than just one speciality. This ensures the original concept supports patient care.
Hospital at Night and 24/7 
