Project Name: Frimley MS Service Redesign and Capacity Support
Project Summary:
The Collaborative Working Project (CWP) aims to redesign and expand the Multiple Sclerosis service with the addition of a Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Nurse to support with the management, review, and follow-ups of Multiple Sclerosis patients. This will address the staff shortages being experienced and help tackle the backlog of patients.
Planned Milestones:
| Milestone | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Project kick off meeting between Novartis and CW Partner. |
| 2 | Recruitment and onboarding of MS Specialist Nurse. Clinical Activity begins and baseline Service Data collected. |
| 3 | 6 months Service Data collected. |
| 4 | 12 months Service Data collected. |
| 5 | 15 months Service Data collected and Business case submitted. |
| 6 | Project Outcomes Summary completed (including 18 months Service Data collected). |
Expected Benefits:
Benefits to NHS
- Improved quality of care
- Reduction in patient waiting lists
- Improved efficiency of referral to treatment times and outcomes
- Improved experience of staff by spreading workload
- Improved patient outcomes due to faster time from referral to treatment
- Improved access to NICE recommended therapy
- Enhanced patient experience of the NHS MS Service by reducing unnecessary waiting times.
Benefits to Patients
- Improved patient outcomes due to faster time from referral to treatment
- Improved access to NICE recommended therapy
- Enhanced patient experience of the NHS MS Service by reducing unnecessary waiting times.
Benefits to Novartis
- Learnings relating to the use of experienced MS nurses in place of MS consultants
- Better understanding of overall customers’ and patients’ needs;
- Optimal use of medicines (including Novartis medicines) in appropriate patients
Start Date & Duration: October 2022 for 23 months (September 2024)
UK2210138101
Project Name: Frimley MS Service Redesign and Capacity Support
Partner Organisation(s): Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
Completion Date: 5th December 2024
Outcome Summary:
The design and implementation of this Collaborative Working Project (CWP) has resulted in an increase in clinical capacity, reduction in waiting times for various procedures, and improved treatment initiation time for Multiple Sclerosis patients.
Key Project Outcomes Data:
The key outcomes of the Collaborative Working Project (CWP) include:
- Increase in clinical capacity: From a baseline of 208 patient appointments for 4 weeks, the clinical capacity increased to 229 patient appointments for 4 weeks at 18 months.
- Reduction in homecare referral time: The average homecare referral time decreased from 18 weeks at baseline to 7 weeks at 18 months.
- Reduction in pre-screen and results check time: The average pre-screen and results check time decreased from 14 weeks at baseline to 7 weeks at 18 months.
- Reduction in DMT discussion time at clinic: The average DMT discussion time at clinic decreased from 10 weeks at baseline to 4 weeks at 18 months.
- Reduction in prescription and blueteq time: The time taken for prescription and blueteq decreased from 16 weeks at baseline to 7 weeks at 18 months.
- Improvement in treatment initiation time for MS patients: At baseline, the longest time for treatment initiation was 21 weeks, the average time was 20 weeks, and the quickest time was 14 weeks. At 18 months, the longest time for treatment initiation was 19 weeks, the average time was 11 weeks, and the quickest time was 7 weeks.
Outcomes:
A key outcome from this CWP was the approval for a business case for the role of Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Nurse to become a substantive post. This indicates that the positive impact of the nurse's role on the service was recognised and deemed sustainable in the long term. This approval ensures that the service will continue to benefit from the expertise and support provided by the Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Nurse, helping to maintain and further improve patient care in the future.
Quote From Partner:
"A huge thank you to Novartis for supporting our service and patients. This has allowed us to increase capacity. improve the patient experience and helped existing staff to develop their skills, which would not have been possible without the support of the Novartis project. We have also been able to introduce new services for our patients, such as an online mindfulness course for patients and an outcome clinic, which we are hoping to implement in the new year and of course sustainability of the existing service. The results from the data show that the additional post is making a real difference in terms of increased clinical capacity and improved time to treatment initiation, which underlines the importance of working collaboratively with industry partners to improve services for people living with MS. Communication throughout the project was key to its success, and the project has strengthened the service, enhanced patient care and access to treatment."
Consultant Nurse, Judith Wilton, Frimley Health Foundation
Conclusion:
Overall, this CWP has been successful. The increase in clinical capacity has brought improvements across the service. From the time of diagnosis, all parameters have shown improvement from baseline.
A key achievement is the establishment of a permanent position, ensuring that MS patients continue to benefit from the expertise and support of a Specialist Nurse.
FA-11414756