Scottish Access Collaborative: Respiratory Report 

Members of the Respiratory Speciality Sub-Group came from 16 specialists’ areas and
6 different NHS Board areas, giving the Sub-Group both a broad geographic and
functional reach. The first step for the workshops was to identify common Respiratory
patient symptoms, noting their importance. Issues were mapped for each symptom
and areas to focus on agreed. Further discussion around these focus areas led to suggestions for sustainable improvement. These ranged from reducing unnecessary initial, return and follow-up appointments and improving chronic infection and sleep apnoea pathways. Work to further scope these improvements will be under taken in the coming months allowing a prioritisation process to take place through the Scottish Access Collaborative (SAC). Future work will involve national support to ensure the
Respiratory community, along with primary care partners are supported to make the necessary changes to ensure efficient and effective patient pathways are achieved. It is envisaged that the work areas will be taken forward either through the Respiratory
community itself or for broader issues which are not specialty specific, be achieved through the SAC Combined Action Group (CAG).