PP28 Stakeholder perspectives of piloting pre-hospital COVID-19 lateral flow test and direct admissions pathway: exploring why well received ideas have low uptake

Background In January 2021 Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Hull University Teaching Hospitals implemented a pilot COVID-19 lateral flow testing (LFT) direct admissions pathway to assess the feasibility of using pre-hospital LFTs bypass Emergency Department. Due lower than anticipated uptake amongst paramedics, we undertook service evaluation reasons for low perceived potential benefits risks associated with pilot. Methods We semi-structured telephone interviews 12 paramedics hospital staff. aimed interview who had taken part in pilot, those received project information but not ward staff receiving patients from transcribed verbatim analysed data thematic analysis according principles Braun & Clarke (Ref). Results Participants were involved overwhelmingly positive about intervention, which they as having limited high health service, themselves supported future roll-out. Participation appeared be positively influenced by personal capacity undertaking research (being ‘research-keen) negatively ‘COVID-19 exhaustion’, electronic overload lack time training. Barriers use related ‘poor timing’ restrictive patient eligibility inclusion criteria. The rapid rollout meant that knowledge or awareness participants reported poor understanding criteria rationale Conclusions clinician involvement pilots may improved multiple recruitment methods (electronic other), providing protected training increased support research. Improved communication (including face-to-face approaches) help increase appropriate recruitment.