Patient Pathways

Patient pathways help ensure that patients are referred to the right professional in the right place at the right time, first time. Pathways provide an excellent basis for standardisation and consistency, ensuring equity of access and care.

Almost all patient pathways begin and end through primary and community health service. 18 Weeks Referral to Treatment recognises the importance of of the whole-system working together. The emphasis therefore is on joint working, seeking collaborations between primary and secondary services and where possible ensuring diagnosis and treatment taking place local to the patient without the need for unnecessary hospital visits.

A series of patient pathways are being developed by the Task and Finish Groups. All the published referral and management pathways can be accessed from this website.

Last updated on 16 March 2011