FSHC Group continue partnership with VIVALDI to reduce infections and improve the lives of residents in care homes

Between June 2020 and March 2023, Four Seasons Health Care Group worked with University College London (UCL) researchers and the Department of Health and Social Care on a national research study called VIVALDI. The study investigated COVID-19 infections and the impact of the disease in care homes. The results of the study informed policy decisions around the best approach to testing and prevention of infections in care homes, helping to protect those living and working in care settings.

Four Seasons and brighterkind care homes in England have now partnered with the VIVALDI Social Care Study which builds on the learnings of the original study and aims to reduce infections in care homes.  Four Seasons and brighterkind residents and families will receive more detailed information about the study and how to opt out of participating, should they wish. 

Commissioned by The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in collaboration with UCL, The Outstanding Society, Care England, and NHS England, this new study will monitor infections in care homes, including COVID-19, flu, norovirus, and urinary tract infections. VIVALDI’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people living, visiting, and working in care homes while reducing the risk of infections and avoiding hospital admissions.

What is the study doing?

The Vivaldi Study team are collecting NHS numbers from residents in our care homes in England and will link these NHS numbers to other data already held by the NHS. The research team, public health experts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), care providers and people who live and work in care homes will work together to agree on the best way to use these data to measure infections and outbreaks.

Examples might include measuring:
*How many residents had a urine infection
*How effective vaccines are at protecting residents from serious illness
(The number of outbreaks in each care home

The study team expect to develop about 10 measures and will ensure that the measures they use do not disadvantage any homes that take part in the study. They will also use the data to create an anonymized research database that can be used by researchers to find new ways to protect people living, working, and visiting care homes. Only projects that have been approved by people who live and work in care homes will be allowed to use the research database.

Why is the study doing this?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people in care homes worked together with researchers and the Government to work out how to stop COVID-19. We want to build on what we learned in the pandemic to tackle other infections and outbreaks, like flu, and norovirus which have a major negative impact on residents and their families. The first step to do this is to measure infections and outbreaks in each care home, which is why we seek permission to access residents’ data. The NHS already measures infection levels in hospitals, but no one measures infections in care homes.

What should I do if I do NOT want my relative’s information to be used in this study?

If you do not want your relative’s data to be included, please tell someone who works in the care home. They will make sure your relative’s details are removed from the list.

Will the study team be able to see any of your relative’s personal information?

No – residents’ personal information will not be visible to anyone who analyses the data. NHS England will remove residents’ NHS numbers before the project team receives any data. This is completed in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018.

Jacqui Ritchie, Chief Operating Officer, Four Seasons Health Care Group, said: “Following our partnership with VIVALDI during the pandemic, we are delighted to again be part of this important research study.  Our help in this work to better understand infections in care homes is crucial to improve prevention and control, and the wellbeing of residents, their families and team members.”

Operating under the Four Seasons Health Care and brighterkind brands, Four Seasons Health Care Group has 50 care homes across the UK, caring for nearly 3,000 people. The group provides long-term and respite residential and nursing care for older people and are an award-winning, sector leader with an innovative approach to specialist dementia care.

Take a look at all of our awards and partnerships here. 

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