Improving Access to Clinical Guidelines Through a Centralised Digital Platform in an NHS Setting: A Quality...

Background A recurring issue was identified among resident doctors at Glan Clwyd Hospital regarding difficulty locating clinical guidelines, which may impact decision-making and patient safety. Timely access to guidelines is particularly critical during out-of-hours shifts to ensure safe, evidence-based care. Aim To develop and implement a centralised SharePoint^TM-based clinical guideline repository to improve the speed, ease, and efficiency of accessing clinical guidelines, and to evaluate its impact on staff experience. Methods A single-centre survey-based quality improvement project was conducted using independent pre- and post-intervention surveys within a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework. A baseline survey of clinical staff identified key barriers in accessing guidelines. A centralised SharePoint^TM site was then created, organising guidelines by speciality and clinical scenario. Training and communication were provided, followed by a post-intervention survey conducted. Results The pre-intervention survey had 80 respondents. Pre-intervention surveys showed the majority of clinicians found accessing guidelines via BetsiNet difficult, with n=59 (74%) reporting perceived delays to patient care and strong demand for an alternative platform. The post-intervention survey had 50 respondents. Following SharePoint^TM implementation, n=47 (94%) respondents reported faster access with perceived improvements in patient care and safety across grades. The platform accrued 764 page views over a 90-day period and 3,869 cumulative views since launch, demonstrating sustained engagement across all clinical grades. Conclusion The implementation of a centralised SharePoint^TM platform was associated with perceived improvements in timely access to clinical guidelines and enhanced staff confidence. This low-cost, scalable intervention utilises existing NHS digital infrastructure, supports efficient patient care via desktop and mobile device access, improves staff satisfaction and is readily replicable across other departments and health boards.