Project Name: Service redesign for MS patients

Project Summary: 

This collaborative working project (CWP) aims to ensure the timely review and medicines optimisation of patients diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) which in turn will alleviate the added pressure on the existing multiple sclerosis (MS) service. This will be achieved by supporting an additional one full time equivalent (FTE) MS specialist nurse band 7 for 18 months of clinics. The total duration of the project will be 27 months. 

The expected outcomes from the CWP will be as follows:

  • Accurate database entries for every patient receiving a DMT.
  • Reduction in the number of patients requiring a review >12 months by the MS Team.
  • An increase in the number of patients being reviewed.
  • A reduction in the number of patients on Neurology backlog >52 weeks
     

Expected Benefits: 

Anticipated benefits to patients.

  • Improved patient outcomes due to faster time from referral to treatment time.
  • Improved access to NICE recommended therapy through the increased reviews as a result of this CWP.
  • Enhanced patient experience and satisfaction of the NHS MS service by reducing unnecessary waiting times.
     

Anticipated benefits to the organisation:

  • Appropriate use of skill set across the service.
  • Accelerated access to services.
  • Improved quality of care.
  • Reduction in patient waiting lists.
  • Improved MDT efficiency and outcomes.
  • Improved experience of staff by spreading workload

Anticipated benefits to Novartis:

  • Novartis is likely to see positive outcomes as a result of the CWP with University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation 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 medicines, including Novartis’s, in line with national and local guidelines, where appropriate, leading to improved patient care.
  • To assist in the redesign and better use of the RRMS management patient pathway, improved 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.
     

Start Date & Expected Duration: 27 months

FA-11633402 | March 2026