Scottish Government

Why is this HEAT target important?

This target supports the Efficiency and Productivity Programme aimed at improving the efficiency of NHSScotland. This target has led to efficient use of clinical and other resources by ensuring that patients are recalled to hospital outpatient appointments only when clinically necessary. In addition, it ensures that follow-up of patients is standardised and decreases the need for excessive hospital visits.

How are we performing?

Target due for delivery in 2010/11

The target is to achieve a reduction of the review to new outpatient attendance ratio to 2.21 by the year ending March 2011. The ratio was 2.12 in the year ending March 2010, compared to a ratio of 2.17 in the year ending March 2009.

Due to the ongoing issues relating to the supply of complete and comprehensive hospital activity data from a number of NHS Boards, ISD Scotland are currently unable to publish its detailed annual Acute Hospital Activity statistics for the year ending March 2011.

ISD Scotland hopes to be able to publish a wider range of annual Acute Hospital Activity information as part of its March 2012 release. Further updates regarding this situation will be reported when they are available.

The graph below shows review-to-new outpatient attendance ratio since 2005/06.

NHS Board level performance is shown in the table below.

Review to New Outpatient Attendance Ratio by NHS Board, financial year ending March 2010 and NHS Board target

Further Information

Progress Report for Efficiency and Productivity Programme

Improvement and Support Team and Efficiency and Productivity Programme

Inpatient, Day Case and Outpatient Activity statistics

Related National Outcomes

• We live longer, healthier lives
• Our public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people's needs