Elective Care Transformation
Our Elective Recovery Programme aims to restore and transform elective care services, eliminating long waits for treatment, reducing waiting times and addressing health inequalities by managing demand and maximising capacity. We want staff and stakeholders to feel invested in this work, so that our patients can be treated sooner. In order to do this we have established six priorities:
1. Referral optimisation
Ensuring that patients’ care is managed in the most appropriate setting – avoiding unnecessary hospital activity.
2. Waiting list management
Transforming how we manage our waiting lists and use our collective capacity across Lancashire and South Cumbria to treat patients, ultimately eliminating long waits. We will also use clinical validation (e.g. ChatBot) supporting patients on waiting lists by identifying patients who are deteriorating, and identifying patients who no longer need to be on a waiting list – opening up capacity for others. This will ensure people are seen in the best and fairest order and will also empower patients to improve their health ahead of treatment.
3. Outpatient Transformation
Transforming patient care, personalising and increasing support for patients self-managing their condition. We will also increase capacity in outpatient clinics by improving how they are utilised and reducing the need for patients to attend follow up appointments, allowing this appointment time to be repurposed for new patients.
4. Theatre Transformation
Maximising the effectiveness of surgical theatres to increase day cases, and achieving the national standard of theatres being utilised for 85 per cent of the time.
5. Surgical Hubs
Expanding and maximising the use of our surgical hubs to increase availability during periods of high demand, to increase efficiency and capacity.
6. Use of the independent sector
Working in partnership with independent sector providers to best use their capacity, supporting the aim of eliminating long waiters.
In June 2022 we achieved the national standard of eliminating 104 week waits. We have made significant progress in reducing the number of patients waiting over 78 weeks – down from 2,608 to 142 patients in 12 months to March 2023. Waiting lists have stabilised, and the number of patients waiting over 65 and 52 weeks is also now decreasing.
But more can still be done, and we believe that by focusing on these six priorities we can eliminate long waits, reduce waiting times and address health inequalities.