National Elective Coordination Unit Drives Efficiency and Improves Patient Access

Strategic Insights -

The National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU), run by the NHS Golden Jubilee's Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD), is a unit based at a Clydebank hospital that matches service demand with available capacity across health boards. Since its launch, NECU has played a crucial role in tackling waiting times and optimising resources, delivering benefits for patients, clinicians, and the wider health system. The unit has achieved significant results, including validating 298,000 patient cases, saving over 24,000 unnecessary appointments, and achieving a 98% patient satisfaction rate.

Key Takeaways:

  • NECU has validated 298,000 patient cases, freeing up capacity and shortening waits, and saved over 24,000 unnecessary appointments.
  • The unit has achieved £9.4 million in cost avoidance for NHS Scotland due to its campaigns.
  • NECU has coordinated over 16,500 procedures, making better use of internal NHS capacity.
  • The specialist pathways, such as dermatology image triage, have reduced demand for face-to-face dermatology lesion appointments by 48%, improved access for patients, and facilitated prompt surgical treatment for over 1400 patients.
  • NECU's overall performance includes a 98% patient satisfaction rate with NECU-led treatment campaigns.
  • The unit has also implemented specialist pathways, such as breast service, which enabled Sarah Cameron, 50, from Inverness, to get a diagnosis and treatment much faster than expected.
  • NECU's work has enabled the reduction of unnecessary appointments and the optimization of resources, benefiting patients, clinicians, and the wider health system.

Statistics:

  • 298,000 patient cases validated by NECU
  • 24,000 unnecessary appointments saved
  • £9.4 million in cost avoidance for NHS Scotland
  • 16,500 procedures coordinated by NECU to make better use of internal NHS capacity
  • 1400 patients with prompt surgical treatment facilitated by dermatology image triage
  • 98% patient satisfaction rate with NECU-led treatment campaigns
  • 48% reduction in demand for face-to-face dermatology lesion appointments due to NECU's specialist pathways

Sources:

  • NHS Golden Jubilee's Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD)
  • National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU)
  • Health board data