Project Name: Novartis Re-imagining Care Pathways Collaborative Working Project (“NRCP CWP”) North Bristol NHS Trust, Multiple Sclerosis Service

Project Summary:

The  NRCP CWP is a service offered by Novartis, which comprises a series of workshops, with the aim of providing pathway mapping support to the CW Partner (healthcare and service teams) to:

  1. Improve efficiency and service effectiveness for the benefit of patient care.
  2. Address the local challenges in the delivery of patient care.

The programme facilitates area teams (Trust or Integrated Care System (ICS)) to identify areas for efficiency within their Multiple Sclerosis service for prioritisation. The CWP 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.
  • Enhanced patient experience of the NHS MS service by mapping the pathway which might allow the inefficiencies to be pinpointed and might allow for service improvement by reducing unnecessary waiting time and potentially reducing the number of visits.
  • Potential 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 healthcare and service teams 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: July 2025, 14 weeks

FA-11473068 | July 2025

Project Name: Novartis Re-imagining Care Pathways Collaborative Working Project (“NRCP CWP”)

Partner Organisation(s): North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Rd, Bristol BS10 5NB (the “CW Partner”)

Completion Date: January 2026

Outcome Summary: 

The key priorities for this project were to identify areas for improvement within the North Bristol NHS 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 Outcome Data: 

A report and pathway map were developed in collaboration with the CW Partner, highlighting the following:

  1. A strengthened understanding of the current service pathway, helping to identify potential opportunities to enhance patient experience and outcomes.
  2. Exploration of key issues within the MS service in Bristol, including streamlining of drug to patient through Pharmacy, the requirement for skilled staff to review bloods and missing drug charts.
  3. Explore the potential for new models of care such as a multi-disciplinary team Super Clinic leading to efficiencies in processes.

Outcomes: 

Through the project, a patient pathway map which outlines the journey that patients will experience in the system in Bristol, along with a report to outline area of current good practice, challenges and pinch points, and areas of opportunity.

Areas of current good practice. The pathway mapping exercise confirmed the Trust’s strong foundations – including committed staff, a comprehensive therapy offer, responsive infusion and phlebotomy services, proactive patient education, an effective relapse line and improving multidisciplinary team (MDT) working – while also identifying practical opportunities to strengthen coordination, reduce avoidable pressure and further enhance patient experience across the pathway.

Challenges and Pinch points. The pathway mapping exercise provided valuable shared insight by highlighting opportunities to improve coordination, reduce avoidable duplication and administrative burden, and strengthen patient experience across an already complex service pathway.

Considerations and recommendations have been made for these in the report.

Quote from Partner: 

“Seeing our current pathway documented and identifying the pinch points has assisted in identifying key areas to address to allow the service to run smoothly. This will ultimately improve patient care.”
Denise Owen, Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Conclusion: 

The delivery of this project offered a real‑time snapshot of the current Multiple Sclerosis Pathway within the North Bristol 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.

FA-11737053 | July 2026