Project Name: Novartis Re-imagining Care Pathways Collaborative Working Project (“NRCP CWP”) Belfast Health & Social Care Trust - Multiple Sclerosis service
Project Summary:
The Reimagining Care Pathways CWP comprises a series of workshops, with the aim of providing pathway mapping support to the CW Partner (healthcare and service teams) to:
- Improve efficiency and service effectiveness for the benefit of patient care.
- Address the local challenges they face in the delivery of patient care.
The programme facilitates area teams (Trust or ICS) to identify areas for efficiency within their Multiple Sclerosis service for prioritisation. The programme will be carried out in a number of different institutions. The service is facilitated by the Novartis Solutions Implementation Manager (SIM) Team.
Expected Benefits:
Anticipated benefits for patients:
- Improvement of clinical pathways which may result in potentially fewer visits and shorter waiting times due to a more efficient clinical pathway
- Faster and more equitable access to the complete range of NICE approved treatment options.
- Quality care improvements aligned to established best practices.
Anticipated benefits for the organisation(s):
- Improved understanding of the current service pathway, and associated efficiencies and inefficiencies. Potential to lead to solutions which could allow the CW Partner’s organisation to enhance both patient experience and outcomes.
Anticipated benefits for Novartis:
- Understanding of possible opportunities to partner with the CW Partner to enhance patient outcomes and experience. Better understanding of patients,’ carers and customers’ needs, which may inform future service offerings, and synergies between needs of the customer and value of Novartis offerings.
Start Date & Duration: September 2025, 16 weeks
FA-11523753 | October 2025
Project Name: Novartis Re-imagining Care Pathways Collaborative Working Project (“NRCP CWP”) Belfast Health & Social Care Trust - Multiple Sclerosis service
Organisation(s): Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Non Clinical Support Building, Royal Victoria Hospital, 274 Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA (the “CW Partner”)
Completion Date: July 2026
Outcome Summary:
The key priorities for this project were to identify areas for improvement within the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Service to identify pinch-points in the patient pathway and to highlight inefficiencies and identify areas for best practice.
Key Project Outcomes Data:
A report and pathway map were developed in collaboration with the CW Partner, highlighting the following:
- A strengthened understanding of the current service pathway, helping to identify potential opportunities to enhance patient experience and outcomes.
- Exploration of dedicated nurse led clinics within the service, to enhance the patient experience which may alleviate pressure on the MS clinic.
The need for equitable key worker support for MS patients, especially patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.
Outcomes:
Outcomes:
3 key areas of need were identified;
- Capacity constraints across the pathway – including follow-up backlogs, diagnostic and neuroradiology delays, limited clinic room availability, and the need for a dedicated infusion suite.
- Operational and workforce gaps – resulting in variability in how services are delivered.
- Regional variation across trusts, and fragmented service provision regionally.
Conclusion:
The delivery of this project offered a real-time snapshot of the current Multiple Sclerosis Pathway within the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust.
By identifying key pinch points and areas for improvement, the findings will help shape recommendations to enhance efficiency and overall patient experience. The project also highlighted existing best practices and opportunities for wider adoption. The insights gathered have informed a collaborative working initiative where Novartis may be able to provide further support.
FA-11732925 | July 2026