An updated version of joint guidance from Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) and the Outpatient Recovery and Transformation (OPRT) programme is available to download, now including guidance for rheumatology and endocrinology and updating the resources for several other specialties and themes.
The GIRFT/OPRT Clinically-led specialty outpatient guidance was originally shared in November 2022 to offer a concise summary of all available advice, as well as resources and top tips for reducing long waits for outpatient appointments and improving patient care.
The guidance specifically highlights actions services can take to reduce the demand for outpatient appointments, and focuses on the surgical and medical specialties with the highest number of +78 week waits. It also offers support for common themes and challenges in outpatient services, such as remote consultation, reducing DNAs, and implementing patient initiated follow-up (PIFU).
Updates in the latest version include new sections for rheumatology and endocrinology, additional advice for geriatric medicine and ophthalmology, and updates on the use of LCAD (Latest Clinically Appropriate Date) to determine the latest date that a patient should attend their next follow-up appointment.
In addition, the guidance has now been co-badged by more than 20 professional societies, demonstrating widespread support for its use.
The 17 specialties now covered in the guidance are cardiology, dermatology, diabetes, endocrinology, ENT, gastroenterology, general surgery, geriatric medicine, gynaecology, neurology, ophthalmology, oral maxillofacial surgery, orthopaedics, respiratory/sleep medicine, rheumatology, spinal surgery and spinal pain, and urology.
Four GIRFT webinars have been held since the first release, helping clinicians and operational teams driving quality improvement within outpatient provision. Recordings are available on the links below.
- Watch our webinar for trainees (21.11.22)
- Watch our surgical webinar (06.12.22)
- Watch our medical webinar (08.12.22)
- Watch our webinar for SAS doctors (20.03.23)
