National Demand Optimisation Group (Ndog) – Phase 3 Report

4 Aims

The NDOG Phase III programme of work was funded and the Steering Group was scheduled to meet four times across 2019/2020.

The agreed main aims of the group during Phase III are summarised below: -

Atlas of Variation development -

• Build upon the existing data collected in Phase II and collect for the calendar year of 2018.
• Explore alternative options to streamline data collection for populating the Atlas.

Engagement -

• Engage with referring clinicians to further refine the Atlas of Variation.
• Engage with referring clinicians to promote a cultural shift in managing requesting patterns.
• Expand stakeholder engagement by coordinating quality improvement champions at a local level to support change.

Quality Improvement -

• Monitor and report on QI programmes being delivered.
• Undertake internal demand optimisation within laboratories to review and standardise methodologies.
• Implement interventions where unwarranted variation can be identified.
• Continue engaging with clinical networks at a national, regional and local level to develop and implement requesting guidelines which could be referenced at a board level.

Endorsement -

• Promote the capabilities of the Atlas of Variation within the GP community.
• Promote the demand optimisation and the realistic medicine agenda at conferences, in reports to professional bodies and in newsletters.