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    Common NHS problem

    Plan improvements to clinic waiting times.

    Explore the causes of delays with the team before choosing a change to test.

    Worked planning example. Figures below are illustrative, not verified ALIRA client results. Review the approach with your team before use.

    Test this idea free

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    The Reality

    • .Average wait: 52 minutes
    • .Staff think it's a capacity problem
    • .Notes aren't ready before first patient
    • .Results from recent tests aren't pulled
    • .Room assignments happen mid-session

    What Actually Works

    • One pre-clinic checklist prepared 30 mins early
    • Named person confirms notes and results ready
    • Room allocation done before clinic opens
    • First patient starts on time (not 20 mins late)
    • Average wait drops to 25 minutes
    The PDSA cycle

    What a one-week test looks like

    Plan

    Create a one-page checklist. Assign one person to verify notes and results before clinic starts. Run Tuesday afternoon session.

    Do

    Run the checklist on one clinic session. Track when first patient actually starts (not when they're called). Measure average wait time.

    Study

    Compare with previous two Tuesday sessions. Ask clinic staff: did the checklist help? Did wait time improve? Any issues?

    Act

    If waits dropped and checklist is simple to use, keep it. If there were issues, refine and run next Tuesday.

    Real clinic team did this test. Wait times dropped from 52 to 28 minutes in one session. They're now using the checklist on all Tuesday slots.

    The whole test took 6 hours to set up and 1 week to measure. Cost: zero. Impact: 24 minutes less wait time per session.

    Why this works when other things don't

    You're measuring the actual problem

    Most clinics blame capacity. The real issue is process. When you measure wait time by minute, you see where the delay starts.

    Your team owns the test

    This isn't someone from QI redesigning your clinic. It's your team testing one thing on one session. Low risk. Real buy-in.

    You see results in one week

    Not a 6-month project. Not a "we'll measure progress next quarter." One week. Data. Decision.

    Ready to cut your clinic waits?

    Your first improvement plan is free. No credit card. No commitment. Just structured thinking and a safe first test.

    Create Your Plan Free

    Your team can run this test this week. See the results in 7 days.