2000 Urology Patients Cleared in Six Months

Helped one of the largest urology units in the country and a leading centre for urological cancer services to reduce urology 52 week waits by 77% 

Head of Service

The Challenge

Extra outpatient activity was urgently needed for one of the largest urology units in the country, also a leading centre for robotic surgery and urological cancer services. The trust was facing a backlog of over 7000 patients waiting for urology care, many waiting on a decision to admit. Urgent support was needed to provide the capacity needed to clear more patients and maintain 2ww standards for urological cancer services. 

The Approach

Medacs rapidly built a new managed outpatient service for urology and colorectal patients, managing regular weekend clinics and ‘super clinics’ with a full clinical coding service. An 'allied' workforce model was most appropriate, supporting the use of of local trust staff, with extra out-of-hours work offered first to substantively employed consultants and nurses, and a small pool of extra clinical staff brought in to support and fill gaps. This model ensured efficient care pathways and aided continuity of care for the Trust, with patients seeing the same consultant in follow-up sessions.

Results

• Over 2000 patients cleared with hundreds of extra outpatient clinics
• Total urology waiting list reduced by 15% in six months
• 52ww urology list reduced by 77% to less than 250 patients
• Change in position enabled trust to divert resources to 2ww cancer reviews and improve performance against national targets
• Trust performed 2nd highest out of 25 in their cohort as part of the GIRFT 'Further Faster' programme"