NHS Dumfries and Galloway case study: balancing capacity with demand

The Basic Building Blocks Methodology

The Basic Building Blocks methodology is a systematic approach to the demand and capacity analysis of existing patient pathways. By using this methodology sites will gain:

• Detailed understanding of the existing emergency patient pathways
• Local clinical team engagement with the creation, review and improvement of their stage within the patient journey
• Meaningful data which improves understanding of demand at each stage of the patients pathway, and utilising knowledge of demand to support realistic capacity planning to create a balanced system and improve the quality of care and outcomes for our patients
• Improved understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships in the system and help managers identify the numbers associated with a 'functioning system'