The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
HBSUK helped Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust reduce dermatology long waits by 42%. The program supported 1,175 patients over a two month period and was mobilised in five weeks, delivering fast and efficient dermatology assessments, significantly reducing demand on current capacity, and streamlining treatment pathways. The HBS Platform reduced the Trust's waiting list and improved RTT compliance, easing service pressures.
The challenge
HBSUK’s collaboration with Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust was driven by the outcomes of NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, which aimed to drive rapid clinical transformation across key specialties. Dermatology was identified nationally as a priority area due to significant patient wait times. Although the Trust was not directly involved in the GIRFT initiative, HBSUK approached them with a tailored solution. Recognising the potential to improve access and efficiency, the Trust chose to embed HBSUK’s digital outpatients platform to help reduce its dermatology outpatient backlog. Serving a population of approximately 264,700 across Rotherham and the wider South Yorkshire region, the Trust plays a crucial role in delivering accessible, timely care to its community.
The Trust wanted to reduce dermatology waiting times, improving and streamlining the patient pathway, with a key focus on patients waiting for over 52 weeks. The Trust also wanted to improve patient satisfaction.
“The initial cohort of over 1,000 patients demonstrated a positive discharge rate, reflecting the platform’s effectiveness in streamlining patient management and supporting clinical decision-making. Patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the clarity, accessibility, and reassurance provided by the platform. From a service perspective, HBSUK’s digital outpatient platform has contributed directly to reducing our outpatient waiting list and improving RTT compliance, helping to address longstanding pressures within the service. The platform has enabled more efficient patient flow management, timely communication, and improved staff productivity. Letters and notifications provided by the platform offer a high level of detail, ensuring patients are well-informed and that clinical teams have accurate, actionable information. Overall, the platform has enhanced both the patient and staff experience, demonstrating innovation, efficiency, and tangible improvements in service delivery”
Deena Goodhead, Service Manager, Care Group 1 (Medicine & UECC) Cardiology, Dermatology, Haematology
Outcomes
-
Around 50%
unnecessary appointments avoided for patients, clearing up clinician capacity
-
Less than 48 hours
for all patients to receive an outcome
-
+61
Net Promoter score, yielding a 4.6/5 patient rating
Build on these outcomes
Want to explore how these results were achieved – or run a similar programme in your service? Our client engagement team is happy to talk through the operational detail.