Website of the Department of Health

AHP Services Improvement Programme

The AHP team in partnership with the 18-week team at the DH embarked upon a Service Improvement Programme in July 2007.

The programme aims to improve AHPs’ skills so they are able to respond to achieving local and national priorities through effectively using information and data. Workshops were held in each SHA and the work has resulted in the development of two new tools designed to help AHPs improve services and contribute to meeting the 18 weeks target.

The first tool comprises a new information management handbook for AHP services, which will support AHP services to improve their data collection and information management. The handbook is structured around 12 key themes and includes self-assessment tools to monitor service improvements.

The Physiotherapy Pathway Improvement Tool identifies ways in which physiotherapy services can improve patients access to and journey through the physiotherapy pathway. Although this tool was designed for physiotherapy services, it can easily be modified to other AHP services.

The second part of the programme is currently being scoped and will look at the further information required to inform commissioners.

• AHP Services Information Management Handbook and Physiotherapy Pathway Improvement Tool on the 18 weeks website (opens new window)