NHS DIGITISATION
Summary
While working as an Assistant Psychologist within an NHS personality disorder clinic, I identified a significant bottleneck in patient waiting times caused by paper-based diagnostic assessments. I led the development of an electronic diagnostic scoring tool to modernise the assessment process, improving clinical efficiency, data quality and patient access to appropriate treatment.
Objectives
(1) Service Efficiency: Reduce patient waiting and referral times by improving diagnostic processes
(2) Digital Enablement: Transition from paper-based assessments to a scalable digital solution
(3) Data Insight: Improve the quality and accessibility of diagnostic data to support decision-making and research
Approach & Delivery
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Conducted in-depth analysis of existing assessment workflows to identify inefficiencies
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Designed and developed a prototype electronic diagnostic scoring tool and presented it to clinical leadership
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Brought together clinicians, technicians and administrative staff to support development and adoption
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Tested and validated the tool using existing patient data to ensure diagnostic accuracy and reliability
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Delivered training and onboarding sessions to support smooth integration into clinical practice
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Engaged with NHS stakeholders to explore wider adoption across services
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Collaborated with developers on a complementary patient feedback app, further modernising data collection
Outcomes & Impact
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Achieved an 83% reduction in diagnostic and referral waiting times
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Enabled faster access to appropriate psychological treatment for patients
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Improved clinician time utilisation, delivering cost and efficiency benefits for the service
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Expanded the availability and usefulness of outcome data across the clinic and wider NHS service
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Supported further research into the effectiveness of mental health treatment approaches
