Many patients are waiting too long for outpatient appointments. We’re working to fix that. We’ve made a number of transformational changes so that we can see more patients each day.

Since October, 20% less patients are waiting 52 weeks or more and 45% less patients are waiting 65 weeks or more.

We are continuing to transform our outpatient care to reduce the waiting times for our patients by using the opportunities of digital technology and innovation to improve our efficiency and productivity, helping us get more care out of every minute of clinical time. This will help patients get the care they need, when they need it. 

Here’s a snapshot of what we have achieved over the last year: 

• Improving Clinic Notes: Ambient Voice Technology is helping clinicians take notes and write letters more quickly to give them more time to focus on seeing patients. It has already been used in over 2,700 consultations.
  
  
• MY CARE is helping us fill short-notice appointments that would otherwise be missed resulting in seeing 1500 more patients over the year. We’re also using it to send appointment reminders and more.
  
  
• We're offering some patients a patient-initiated follow-up, instead of a routine follow-up appointment after a set time, so that patients are empowered to contact us to book an appointment when they need one.
  
  
• We’re using group clinics for some appointments where patients have an ongoing health problem. Patients can learn together about managing their health problem in a safe, supportive environment.
  
  
• We’re changing the way we deliver outpatients in line with national policy and to make sure patients get the specialist advice they need as quickly as possible. To help make this happen our clinicians have provided 40% more advice and guidance in 2025.