SAC Gynaecology Design Workshop Report

This report details the activity and outcomes of a series of design led workshops involving stakeholders of Gynaecology services in the NHS Scotland. Participants came from 13 specialists’ areas and 5 different NHS Board areas, giving both a broad geographic and functional reach. The first step for the workshops was to identify common Gynaecology patient symptoms, noting their importance. Issues were mapped for each symptom and areas to focus on agreed. Further discussion around these focus areas led to suggestions for sustainable improvement to Gynaecology services. These ranged from additional targeted patient information, virtual consultations for follow-up and dedicated vetting in secondary care to clinical cluster groups, and nationally accepted referral guidelines which are easy to access and follow. Work to further scope these improvements will be under taken in the coming months allowing a prioritization process to take place through the Scottish Access Collaborative (SAC). Future work will involve national support to ensure the Gynaecology community, along with primary care partners are supported to make the necessary changes to ensure efficient and effective patient pathways are achieved. It is envisaged that the work areas will be taken forward either through the Gynaecology community itself or for broader issues which are not specialty specific, be achieved through the SAC Combined Action Group (CAG).