Secondary and Tertiary Flows

• The Vascular Surgeons in Tayside, Highland and Grampian have met regularly on an informal basis to discuss the future of regional collaboration and now undertake a regular, informal MDT for complex cases.
• 2 regional Vascular Surgery workshops took place between June and September 2019.
• A Current Situation document outlining the situation in each Board, the Vascular Society guidance and other relevant aspects of Vascular activity has been drafted to inform any future decision making.

• 3 workshops have taken place with representation from across the 6 Health Boards. There are strong relationships between the Consultant Dermatologists.
• A current situation document outlining the situation in each Board, the British Association of Dermatologists guidance and other relevant aspects of Dermatology activity has been partially compiled.

• Regional Ophthalmology discussions have a separately funded PID to the other specialties in the STF PID. A Lead Clinician and Project Manager were appointed who have taken forward regional discussions to ascertain the most appropriate tasks that will bring benefit to the population of the North.
• Priorities identified included: standardised out of hours model (Grampian & Highland); use of slit lamps to allow remote consultations by specialist Consultants when the patient presents to the Optometrist.
• More information can be found on the Ophthalmology page here

• Discussions have commenced within the North Cancer Alliance to alleviate some of the immediate issues that exist within Urology for cancer and non-cancer services and pathways.

• A small group was established in early 2019 to look at harmonising Access Policies across the North. A Working Group from across the region undertook a gap analysis to ascertain the differences between the Access Policies.

• Discussions around this area, and from learning gleaned from the work being done with the individual specialties, has concluded that a “tertiary strategy” is an appropriate place to start in the regional context.
• Plans have been drafted to start the discussions but have not been progressed due to the COVID-19 emergency. 

The Covid-19 pandemic forced a rethink of all regional programmes, networks and priorities and also contributed to the uncertainty around ongoing transformational programme funding going forward. For this reason the formal Programme has now drawn to a close and different ways of achieving the aims of the programme are being sought through the Regional Hub.

For more information on any of the above pieces of work please contact tay.nospgadmin@nhs.scot