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• Foreword >
• NSR Summary >
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• The Context for Yorkshire and the Humber >
• The Methodology of the Review >
• The Case for Change >
• The Staying Healthy
  Pathway >
• The Maternity
  and Newborn Pathway >
• The Long Term
  Conditions Pathway >
• The Children's
  Pathway >
• The Planned
  Care Pathway >
• The Acute
  Episode Pathway >
• The Mental
  Health Pathway >
• The End of
  Life Pathway >
• Implications for
  Delivery Models >
• Turning our
  Recommendations
  into Reality >
• Full NSR Report >

Appendix

• Technical Appendix >

Resources

• Resource List >

The Planned Care Pathway

Right place, right time, right care

1
Whilst there have been dramatic improvements in recent years – for example in waiting times which will be no more than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by the end of 2008 – we know that there are still several ways in which we can make planned care more efficient and effective. Most of us are likely to undergo planned treatment of some kind or a planned diagnostic procedure at some time in our lives. This chapter (based on the work of the Planned Care CPG – full report available at www.yorksandhumber. nhs.uk) sets out the ways in which we can improve this type of care.

The Case for Change

2
The case for change in planned care is clear:

• We could be much more efficient – our day case rates vary from 29% to 67% for hernia repair (adults) by hospital.
• There are too many follow-up outpatient appointments (with a threefold variation). This can waste people's time, result in unnecessary journeys to hospital and is an inefficient use of resources.
• We don't make best use of latest technology e.g. by having telephone follow-ups or e-mailing the results of diagnostic tests.
• Specialist care in some places is not always staffed with the same level of expertise, and this is likely to have an impact on outcomes.

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