A new Trust-wide initiative has launched which is focused on improving outpatient services. Outpatient User Groups (OPUGs) bring people together across outpatient specialties from clinical, administrative, operational and support teams to share ideas, solve problems, and make outpatient care better for everyone.
OPUGs are based on the successful STUGs (Specialty Theatre User Groups) model, which continue to improve theatre services. Now, we’re applying the same collaborative approach to outpatient care.
Programme Manager for Planned Care, Louise Corp, said: "We have seen how collaboration drives improvement in the way our STUGs have transformed our theatre services. Our goal with OPUGs is simple, to see more of the right patients, in the right place, using the resources we already have.
"Though we have only just started, in the last few months we now have more than 25 clinical specialties involved and OPUGs are already identifying ways to improve the way we work, and how patients experience our services."
Why OPUGs matter
Together, we’re working to:
- Reduce waiting times
- Make care more consistent across specialties
- Tackle health inequalities
- Improve patient safety and experience
Each OPUG focuses on three key areas:
- Clinic utilisation and productivity – making the most of our resources, time and space.
- Booking processes – streamlining how appointments are scheduled and validated.
- Clinical pathway redesign – rethinking the full patient journey, from initial contact within primary and community care into our hospital services.
What’s happening?
- OPUGs launched across 25 specialties in March and April 2025.
- Meetings were initially held monthly or bi-monthly, depending on each specialty needs.
- OPUG leadership touchpoints were held throughout June and July to deep dive and explore data and identify improvement opportunities.
- Cross-specialty projects are underway, focusing on clinic templates, workforce planning, estate usage, patient pathways and capacity demand planning.
- Identifying risks that affect outpatient delivery and improving patient experience.
