Project Name: Service Redesign for MS patients

Project Summary: 

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (“BHSCT”, the “CW Partner”) MS nursing team reviews and manages MS patients for both BHSCT and patients who reside in South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (“SEHSCT”) who attend BHSCT MS clinics. There are currently 1,069 patients waiting for a clinic review with a consultant.

This collaborative working project (CWP) between BHSCT and Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited aims to ensure the timely review and medicines optimisation of patients diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) which in turn may alleviate the added pressure on the existing multiple sclerosis (MS) service. This will be achieved by funding one full time equivalent (FTE) MS specialist nurse band 7 and administrative support band 4 (the “Project Roles”) for 24 months of clinics. 

The key measures of success for the project will be the improvement from the baseline of the following:

  • The actual number of additional clinic reviews carried out by the Project Role.
  • The reduction in the number of patients requiring a review >12 months from a baseline of 1,069 patients.
  • The average time from multi-disciplinary team (MDT) treatment decision to treatment initiation, from a baseline of an average of 12 weeks.

Expected Benefits: 

Patients.

  • Patients with MS will be reviewed in a timely manner and have an annual review as recommended by NICE 2016. Increase the number of patients receiving the recommended MS annual review.1
  • Improve patient outcomes and experience by reducing time between review appointments.
  • Timely review will ensure patients have access via referral to the multidisciplinary team, MRI scanning where appropriate and timely access to NICE recommended disease modifying treatments when indicated. Delayed clinic review may delay these opportunities.
  • Accelerated access to services including referrals and symptomatic treatments.
  • Improved quality of care and patient satisfaction by the provision of timely, effective and efficient MS care.
  • Contact with MS Nurse.

NHS.

  • Ensure the current level of MS Service offered to patients is maintained and strive to improve the service further. 
  • Manage the Consultant MS clinic review backlog efficiently and reduce the waiting times for patients to be reviewed.
  • Collection of project data to support BHSCT to build a business case for continued funding of the CWP Role(s) on an ongoing basis when the project ends.
  • Enable the development of a new MS Nurse role focusing on review Nurse Led Clinics ensuring patients with MS have an annual review as recommended by NICE 2016.1 
  • Actively address the identified lack of consultant capacity to review patients in a timely fashion by using the skill mix of the MS Team efficiently.
  • Opportunity for upskill within the service team.

Novartis.

  • Novartis is likely to see positive outcomes as a result of the CWP with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. By enhancing the multiple sclerosis service delivery, the CWP aims to improve patient outcomes for those patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). As more patients are reviewed, there is potential for greater utilisation of Novartis's medicines, in line with national and local guidelines, where appropriate, which may lead to improved patient care.
  • To assist in the redesign and better use of the RRMS management patient pathway and improve understanding of the pressure points and priorities associated with the MS service and backlog of patients pending reviews. This will enable Novartis to build better projects in this therapy area in other regions of the UK with an aim to help more RRMS patients receive a timely review.

Reference

  1. Multiple sclerosis Quality standard Reference number: QS108 Published: 14 January 2016, available on line at Quality statement 6: Comprehensive review | Multiple sclerosis | Quality standards | NICE, last accessed 26 August 2026. 

Start Date & Expected Duration: November-2026 for 33 months.

Produced by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited.

FA-11819747 | October 2026