Evaluation at GIRFT
Evaluation and learning are central to the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme. Our work aims to understand how GIRFT initiatives contribute to improvements in clinical services, how these improvements are implemented across organisations and what can be learned to support sustainable change across the NHS.
Our overall approach is described in the GIRFT evaluation and learning framework, which sets out the principles, methods and approaches that underpin our evaluation activity.
The GIRFT evaluation and learning function brings together several complementary approaches. These combine analysis of national data with programme monitoring and learning from implementation experiences across participating organisations.
Together, these approaches help GIRFT understand the impact of its programmes, learn from how change is introduced in practice and support improvements that can be sustained within local systems.
Our approach spans four complementary workstreams. Click on each of the headings below for more information.
Evaluation of GIRFT interventions within clinical specialties
This workstream examines whether GIRFT interventions – including GIRFT Academy programmes and clinical improvement initiatives such as deep-dive reviews and clinical lead visits – are associated with changes in key performance metrics across specialties.
Using national datasets, we analyse trends over time and explore the relationship between GIRFT activity and observed changes in performance indicators such as day case rates and benchmark attainment.
This analysis is undertaken internally and therefore does not constitute independent external evaluation. While it helps to understand associations between GIRFT activity and system performance, improvements are interpreted within the wider context of multiple factors influencing NHS services.
Findings from this work help inform learning across GIRFT programmes and contribute to the wider evidence base on clinical improvement across specialties.
View GIRFT evaluations by specialty
Urgent and Emergency Care evaluation
This workstream focuses on GIRFT’s contribution to improvement within urgent and emergency care (UEC) pathways.
The evaluation examines the delivery and outcomes of UEC-focused programmes, including initiatives such as UEC Tiering and Further Faster. Using defined metrics and targeted evaluation approaches, we assess programme implementation, outcomes and areas of emerging good practice.
Insights from this work support programme learning, inform continuous improvement and contribute to national understanding of urgent and emergency care delivery.
Evaluation of national initiatives
GIRFT also contributes to the evaluation of national improvement initiatives that involve collaboration across multiple organisations within the NHS.
In these programmes we apply a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative performance data with qualitative insight from participating organisations. This helps us understand not only whether change occurs, but also how improvements are implemented and embedded in practice.
Behavioural and implementation science approaches are used to explore the factors that influence how improvements are adopted, adapted and sustained in different organisational contexts.
Learning from participating organisations helps inform future programme development and supports wider understanding of how improvements can be implemented successfully across the NHS.
Independent external evaluations
GIRFT is also evaluated by independent external organisations.
These evaluations provide an external perspective on the programme’s impact and implementation. Links to published reports from independent organisations assessing GIRFT initiatives are provided in this section.