The Urology team at University Hospital Monklands has been announced as a finalist for the Staff Awards Ceremony 2024, thanks to their remarkable work in transforming urology care through the development of the Urology Hub. Their bold vision to create a single point of access for patients—a “one-stop shop”—has become a reality, drastically reducing waiting times and improving outcomes for those accessing urology services.
The team’s dedication to improving patient care is evident in their expansion of the Multi-Disciplinary Team and the implementation of innovative care pathways, including Active Clinical Referral Triage (ACRT). Since the launch of the Urology Hub, these innovations have significantly enhanced access to care, resulting in a far more efficient service.
For patients referred with suspected prostate cancer, the changes have been particularly impactful. Waiting times for an initial consultation have dropped from an average of 20 days to just 4 days, and those requiring a biopsy now wait only 16 days—down from 49 days under the previous pathway. The improvements are equally striking for patients on the haematuria cancer pathway, with waiting lists reduced from 180 patients to just 4, and appointments now booked within 2 weeks instead of 9.
The Urology team’s commitment to improving cancer care has yielded impressive results. In March and April 2024, they achieved the second-highest cancer performance of any mainland health board. By May, their performance against the 62-day cancer target had reached 82.1%—the highest it had been since February 2021. Their performance has consistently exceeded the national average by 33% for three consecutive months.
This success is a testament to the team’s relentless drive to deliver on their improvement project. Their close collaboration with Cancer Services and Diagnostics has optimised their vision for future service delivery, aligning with the Centre for Sustainable Delivery’s key principles. The positive outcomes they’ve achieved for patients progressing through the urology cancer pathways are a direct result of their hard work and innovation.
Special recognition goes to Ms. Sarah Reid, whose leadership and clinical expertise have been instrumental to the project’s success. Strong teamwork and collaboration across all services have been key to these exceptional results. The Urology team at University Hospital Monklands has truly set a new standard for patient care. For their innovation, commitment, and outstanding achievements, they have been rightfully shortlisted for this award.
