Gynaecology GIRFT Report - January 2024

Date published: 31 January 2024

The Department of Health last year commissioned the ‘Getting It Right First Time’ (GIRFT) team to undertake an independent, external rapid review of gynaecology services in Northern Ireland.

Details

This was a recognition of the unacceptably high waiting times for both gynaecology outpatient appointments and surgery.

Getting It Right First Time is a clinically-led, data-driven programme of healthcare quality improvement, developed in the NHS in England.

The aim of the GIRFT review was to identify areas where improvements could be made in the extensive waiting lists for gynaecology services, and to ensure that patients are treated as quickly as possible to ensure best possible outcomes. The review considered all elective gynaecology services, and focused on maximising capacity in the Health and Social Care (HSC) system to secure sustainable service delivery and more effective patient throughput in line with the Elective Care Framework and the Cancer Strategy. 

The GIRFT review report has been published today. It identifies 20 regional recommendations, designed to improve patient care and tackle waiting times. In addition, there are bespoke recommendations for each of the Health and Social Care Trusts.

The Department will be engaging with relevant stakeholders to progress implementation of the GIRFT recommendations. It is recognised that some of the recommendations will require additional investment and this will impact delivery.

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