Lean Transformation

Lean Thinking is a proven way of transforming performance and service delivery in healthcare organisations. Not only can the results be truly dramatic, but Lean delivers benefits quickly whilst fostering continuous improvement through a powerful combination of evidence-based analysis, consensus and collaboration.

When these virtues are allied to a focus on reducing waste and improving flow, Lean can be seen as particularly compatible with NHS culture and practice, leading to the development of responsive, high quality and efficient services. Added benefits include the integration of clinical risk management and operational systems to deliver safe repeatable processes. Lean can be applied to parts of a patient journey or across whole systems of patient care to achieve:

Care pathway re-design
Streamlining of organisational processes
Productivity and improved efficiency
Improved outcomes and service quality
Delivery of key targets (e.g. delayed transfer of care, Accident and Emergency waiting times, elective care)
Locally-led change for the benefit of the patient
Whole-system transformation
Shifting the balance of delivery between primary and acute sectors.

Atos Healthcare has the expertise to guide NHS teams through Lean techniques that identify areas of value for patients. Our approach helps staff develop Lean skills and plan and implement change. Organisations can prioritise and define challenges in a self-empowering culture of continuous assessment and review.

Lean practice also embeds data collection and analysis capabilities, promoting evidence-based decision making and ongoing performance monitoring.

We have great experience successfully delivering Lean transformation for NHS organisations and we take a whole-system perspective in order to identify, prioritise and deliver the right interventions for multiple improvement targets.