From Backlogs to Breakthroughs: How Super Clinics Transformed Gynaecology Access in the North West
Long waits in gynaecology aren’t just operational challenges. They delay diagnoses, affect outcomes, and place sustained pressure on services.
In response, a forward-thinking NHS Trust in the North West partnered with 18 Week Support to launch a targeted weekend model: Gynaecology Super Clinics – designed to increase capacity, reduce delays and streamline the patient pathway.
Held every Saturday, these clinics combined consultation, diagnostics and treatment in a single visit, accelerating recovery while protecting core weekday resources.
The vision
The goal was ambitious: eliminate all 52-week breaches in gynaecology by March 2025. With weekday clinics already at capacity, a bold, scalable weekend solution was required.
Every Saturday, four clinics ran in parallel:
• Two for new patient consultations
• One ultrasound clinic
• One treatment clinic for minor procedures, including hysteroscopies
Patients were triaged in advance and pre-booked into the appropriate clinics. Many completed their entire care journey — from consultation through to diagnostics and treatment — in a single visit.
The results
• Over 1,500 patients seen in under a year
• Typical 6-8 week pathway condensed into a single visit
• Up to 100 patients seen a day
• DNA rates reduced, and follow-ups minimised through same-day services
“Perfect service. Being able to have consultation and scan and treatment in the same day is convenient and a wonderful service.”
– Patient feedback
The model delivered real impact — reducing duplication, improving access, and safeguarding core weekday capacity. It also supported staff wellbeing by offering voluntary or rotational weekend clinics to prevent burnout.
Why it worked
• Strong mobilisation: early stakeholder engagement, clear objectives, and defined patient pathways
• Governance-led delivery: all insourced clinicians worked under the Trust’s protocols and oversight
• Operational flexibility: weekend scheduling preserved weekday resources and supported workforce resilience
Built to last
The Gynaecology Super Clinics are now embedded as Business As Usual. What began as a targeted initiative to reduce long waits has evolved into a sustainable model of elective care — balancing governance, efficiency and patient-centred delivery.
By combining high-quality insourced capacity with local leadership and robust processes, this partnership demonstrates how innovation in service design can deliver lasting transformation.
About 18 Week Support
18 Week Support is a leading CQC and AQP registered healthcare organisation, and the leading provider of clinical insourcing and outsourcing services to NHS Trusts, ICSs and Health Boards across the UK.
For over 15 years, we have delivered cost-effective solutions to reduce waiting lists and provide patients with quicker access to high-quality healthcare across medical and surgical elective specialities, in both acute and community settings. 18 Week Support continues to evolve, refining innovative and efficient solutions to better support the healthcare system and patients.
Want to explore how this model could work in your trust?
Get in touch Contact | 18 Week Support | Partnerships@18weeksupport.com
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