‘No more routine outpatient appointments in the NHS’: it is time to shift to data-driven appointment

Abstract

Abstract Currently, outpatient care in the UK is expensive and needs improvement, with traditional systems having been identified as no longer fit for purpose. Making sustainable changes to outpatient appointment systems is vital in order to meet increasing demands and cost. Shifting to data and technology-driven outpatient care may be one way to tackle these demands. As technology becomes more diverse and accessible, its implementation into healthcare systems can make services more efficient and help with transitioning from outdated practices to more effective protocols. Patient Recorded Outcome Measures (PROMs) and home-monitoring devices could be the key step in identifying which patients require input and help shift to more data-driven appointment scheduling based on clinical need, rather than at regular intervals of time. Virtual care and technology-driven service provision could also revolutionise outpatient systems, maintaining high quality care while improving accessibility to patients. Patient involvement and empowerment while making these changes will assist shared decision making surrounding their care and allow them to be champions of their own health, helping clinicians to provide a patient-centred service. Understanding how these may be implemented will help clinicians take an active role in the development of these practices.