Delivering the 18 week pathway
 A new publication, Tackling hospital waiting: the 18 week patient pathway has been written, “to help healthcare staff deliver the targets.”
In the words of Kay East, the Chief Health Professions Officer, “Radiographers are encouraged to play their part by contributing to the redesign of patient pathways and supporting the shift of services to primary care. From December 2008, NHS patients will be guaranteed a maximum wait of 18 weeks between GP referral and hospital treatment.”
The new document describes exactly when the clock starts and stops along the patient journey, outlines a timetable for delivery, and sets out key actions for all staff.
According to the latest AHP Bulletin, “The way waiting times are measured is changing. Instead of focusing on a single stage of treatment, the 18 week pathway covers the entire patient journey. In doing so, it shines a light on so called ‘hidden waits’ - the diagnostic and follow-up stages that have not previously been systematically measured.”
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