Reduced operative capacity

This Treatment Time Guarantee (TTG) includes operative treatment. However, even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NHS in Scotland reported rates which varied significantly at specialty level, and across Boards. 

During the pandemic period, since March 2020 to date, elective operative capacity has been decimated, due to the reliance on key staff elsewhere in the system, and the need to reduce the risk of infection transmission to patients who could wait. As a result, the compliance rate with the TTG target has further reduced.

Resolve Healthcare recognises the significant efforts made locally and nationally in Scotland to tackle these increasing delays, and notes that the solutions include the use of the NHS waiting times centre at Golden Jubilee National Hospital, private hospital surgical capacity, and private companies. However, the costs relating to the private solutions, are significant, and increasing year on year. 

Resolve Healthcare recognises that solutions to this problem are needed urgently, and that everyone with the skills to assist should find ways to offer that assistance. The Organisation’s purpose is built on that belief. 

Resolve Healthcare’s ethos is to provide a cost-effective solution which will increase capacity and harness the desire of NHS Scotland staff to assist in the national effort to bring this problem under control. Resolve Healthcare will offer the skilled capacity, already supported and trained by NHS Scotland, within a framework that allows them to be paid appropriately, but not exorbitantly, while ensuring outcomes for patients remain of high quality. Best value is increased by maximising the use of fallow surgical facilities that are ready for use. 

Resolve Healthcare will provide additional flexible capacity with an ability to react quickly without significant set up costs or lead times in a more cost effective and quality assured model utilising NHS staff rather than the current practice of other private companies.