13:30 - 14:45

Transforming patient pathways and waiting lists - The Highland urology team Urgent action was needed in NHS Highland’s Urology Department

With two out of six consultant posts vacant and no applicants and almost 1000 patients waiting for care something had to be done and fast. 

In this presentation the remarkable story of how one of the worst waiting time lists for cancer and non-cancer was turned around, will give real hope to all NHS staff. 

The initiative, done under the auspices of the national Scottish Access Collaborative (SAC), a multi-organisation approach bringing together clinicians, management, patients, third sector and government, set out to sustainably improve all aspects of Urology in NHS Highland. 

A project team was established to implement the change with the adoption of new ways of working that placed nursing at its centre.   

This included:   

Accelerated development of enhanced practitioners (implementing Nurse Lead Pathways within all sub specialties: Prostate, Bladder, Renal and Benign conditions); 

Expansion of Nurse Cystoscopy; 

Increasing virtual clinic attendance; 

Maximum use of Open Reviews (Patient Initiated Returns). 

The results are excellent - so much so that the team was awarded the Chief Nursing Officers’ of the UK award recently. 

In this presentation delegates will: 

Learn how developing nurse roles, with minimal capital funding, can transform patient pathways away from previously consultant-led services; 

See how small changes at different stages can make a big difference overall; 

See how good team-working yields better results; 

Supporting Planned Care Capacity and Demand Matching - NECU

Through a collaborative approach to sustainable integrated care across NHS Scotland, The National Elective Coordination Unit (NEU) supports NHS Boards with planned care recovery, waiting lists and ensuring patients are seen in the right place at the right time. This unit was set up in 2022 by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) which is part of NHS Golden Jubilee. 

In this presentation those involved will give an update on the impact of this co-ordinated approach to waiting time recovery and the impact this is having on patients. 

They will outline how, through a digital first and Once for Scotland approach, they are working with NHS Boards to streamline appointments and share resources and in so doing improving equity of care and reducing variation for the longest waiting patients. 

After this presentation, delegates will have: 

Gained an understanding of the role of the National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU); 

Understand the potential benefits of employing digital first and innovative approaches to patient engagement to improve access to planned care; 

Appreciate how collaborative approaches through cross board working can support timely patient care within planned care recovery.