Work Package 4
This pilot Randomised Control Trial (RCT) will use a multi-arm ('platform') methodology to compare our three interventions developed in Work Package 2 against a single control group of patients having standard care. We will look at the feasibility of delivering the interventions, and their acceptability to clinicians and patients. Using a combination of data from patients and clinicians, we will make a decision on which of the interventions is the most likely to improve postoperative outcomes, and then take that through to a full RCT (Work Package 5).
Work Package 5
The full RCT is due to start in 2029, recruiting 2600 patients in an anticipated 40 hospitals across England. We will evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of our chosen intervention, to see if it reduces deaths and time spent in hospital after surgery, along with other key outcomes.
Work Package 6
If more than one intervention from Work Package 4 is promising, the goal of this work package will be to secure further funding and continue the HIPPOCRATES platform, testing one or more further interventions over the following few years.