Discovering patterns in outpatient neurology appointments using state sequence analysis.

Background: Outpatient services in the UK, and in particular outpatient neurology services, are under considerable pressure with an ever-increasing gap between capacity and demand. To improve services, we first need to understand the current situation. This study aims to explore the patterns of appointment type seen in outpatient neurology, in order to identify potential opportunities for change.

Outpatient neurology diagnostic coding: a proposed scheme for standardised implementation.

Clinical coding uses a classification system to assign standard codes to clinical terms and so facilitates good clinical practice through audit, service design and research. However, despite clinical coding being mandatory for inpatient activity, this is often not so for outpatient services, where most neurological care is delivered. Recent reports by the UK National Neurosciences Advisory Group and NHS England's 'Getting It Right First Time' initiative recommend implementing outpatient coding.

Variation in waiting times by diagnostic category: an observational study of 1,951 referrals to a neurology outpatient clinic.

Objective: To investigate the frequency of diagnoses seen among new referrals to neurology outpatient services; to understand how these services are used through exploratory analysis of diagnostic tests and follow-up appointments; and to examine the waiting times between referral and appointment.

Methods: Routine data from new National Health Service appointments at a single consultant-delivered clinic between September 2016 and January 2019 were collected. These clinical data were then linked to hospital administrative data.

Routinely collected patient data in neurology research: a systematic mapping review.

Background: This review focuses on neurology research which uses routinely collected data. The number of such studies is growing alongside the expansion of data collection. We aim to gain a broad picture of the scope of how routine healthcare data have been utilised.