NHSE looks to scrap ‘follow ups’ target

NHS England is looking to ditch a key elective target that aimed to deliver large reductions in follow-up appointments, HSJ has learned.

Senior sources privately admit progress has not been made against the target to cut the volume of the most common type of outpatient follow-up by 25 per cent target.

This is supported by publicly available data. While this only gives a partial picture, the data suggests the volumes have actually increased compared to pre-covid levels.

The volume-based target is widely viewed as unrealistic and senior figures told HSJ it had also “masked” some genuine progress trusts have made in reforming outpatient services and reducing less productive appointments.

Sources familiar with discussions said having a volume-based target to reduce a subset of patients while trying to increase overall activity volumes had been logistically complex.

NHSE is instead pushing for a new “ratio-based” target which sources said would be a better measure to reduce the least productive types of outpatient follow-ups and be a fairer measure of progress.

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Source: HSJ, 26 February 2024