Waiting list validation

Waiting lists remain a significant challenge for the NHS, with elective care pathways continuing to feel the impact of the COVID pandemic. Extended waits place pressure on services, increase clinical risk, and affect patient experience.

Effective waiting list validation plays a critical role in optimising access to limited NHS resources and ensuring that patients on waiting lists remain safe, appropriately prioritised, and supported while they wait.

Why waiting list validation matters

Regular and structured review of waiting lists enables NHS Trusts to:

  • Identify patients who no longer require intervention
  • Reprioritise care based on clinical need
  • Reduce unnecessary appointments and procedures
  • Improve accuracy of pathway data
  • Support safer, more efficient service delivery

Validation ensures that capacity is directed to patients who need it most and that care pathways remain clinically appropriate.

Fortify Clinic’s approach

Fortify Clinic takes an innovative, clinically led approach to waiting list validation. Our teams work in partnership with NHS Trusts to review pathways using established governance frameworks and national best practice.

We support Trusts to validate waiting lists at pace while maintaining patient safety, data integrity, and clinical oversight.

Advice and guidance

Fortify Clinic has extensive expertise in delivering Advice and Guidance models to support waiting list validation. This allows senior clinicians to review referrals remotely and provide clear recommendations without the need for unnecessary face-to-face appointments.

Advice and guidance supports:

  • Early clinical decision making
  • Reduction in inappropriate referrals
  • More efficient use of outpatient capacity
  • Improved patient communication
  • Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU)

Fortify Clinic also supports the implementation of Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) pathways as part of waiting list validation. PIFU empowers patients to reaccess care when they need it, rather than attending routine follow-up appointments that may not be clinically necessary.

This approach helps:

  • Reduce follow-up backlogs
  • Improve patient experience and flexibility
  • Release clinical capacity
  • Maintain safety through clear escalation criteria

Improving safety and access

By combining waiting list validation with Advice and Guidance and PIFU, Fortify Clinic helps NHS Trusts improve access to care, reduce clinical risk, and ensure that patients waiting longest are appropriately reviewed.

Our approach supports elective recovery while maintaining robust governance, clear communication, and a strong focus on patient safety.