Reducing waits in elective care (2023/24)
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Q Lab’s latest project is exploring: how might we create collective responsibility to reduce delays in elective pathways.
The project is making good progress. You can find out more about the six test teams who have received funding to work with other Lab participants to develop and test promising ideas to tackle this challenge.
Why take a Q Lab approach
Waiting lists and wait times for NHS elective care are at unsustainable levels. Timely, efficient, and safe care relies on collaboration and flow along pathways. There’s already good work going on across the health system, but pressures on the system can get in the way of solutions and shared ownership of the problem.
Q Lab offers the ideal, proven approach to working together to make progress on complex health and care challenges like this. Taking a single challenge, we bring together individuals and organisations to pool what they know about the topic, uncover insights, and develop and test ideas that can bring about change.
“One of the real benefits of working in an environment such as Q Lab, is I could find a network of support and constructive challenge. Having to come out of my comfort zone to talk about the things that I want to take forward, and opening them up to help me develop the skills that will make the work go in a better way.”
The Lab test teams
We’re funding six great teams who have joined the Lab to explore this topic.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Wales
The team will explore how they can reduce the current waits for people suspected of having head and neck cancer, involving collaboration across different departments and two hospitals.
NHS East of England Region, Paediatric departments
This team will test how service providers in Hertfordshire and West Essex can better meet the rising demand for community paediatric service appointments.
South Docs Services
This GPs co-operative in the West Midlands want to understand the root causes of the waits in acute urology services and explore a shift to more delivery at GP level.
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Pain Management Service
Patients on high opioids and chronic pain relief on the pre-operative list are not currently seen by the pain management service, and the team will explore how it’s possible to support patients and their needs and minimise delays.
University College London Hospitals, Paediatric Department
The team wants to take an equity lens to understanding and reducing young people’s rheumatology clinic non-attendance and supporting them holistically.
The Lab approach
Keeping track of the Lab’s progress
If you can’t join the Lab and want to keep track of our progress, you can join the Lab online group, and look out for updates on this page and in Q-municate.
You can also read more about this project through our blogs:
In conversation with Sir Jim Mackey: Improvement and reducing waits in elective care
Learning from Q Lab: Reflections on Flow Theory
Learning from Q Lab: Two steps forward, one step back. Slowing down to move forward?
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in touch at QLab@health.org.uk