Lean Six-Sigma: the means to healing an ailing NHS?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine England’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) arm of the National Health Service (NHS). It considers the positive impact that Lean has had and Six-Sigma can have in A&E departments to improve the quality and reliability of the service offered, in an area that is facing performance challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

Independent variables average monthly temperature data (degrees Celsius) obtained from the Met Office and weekly A&E data, patient volume is analysed alongside the dependent variable, the percentage of patients seen in 4 h or less.

Findings

The model produced a robust positive impact when Lean Six-Sigma is adopted, increasing the likelihood of A&E dependents meeting their performance objective to see and treat patients in 4 h or less.

Research limitations/implications

Further variables such as staffing levels, A&E admission type should be considered in future studies. Additionally, it would add further clarity to analyse hospitals and trusts individually, to gauge which are struggling.

Practical implications

Should the NHS further its understanding and adoption of Lean Six-Sigma, it is believed this could have significant improvements in productivity, patient care and cost reduction.

Social implications

Productivity improvements will allow the NHS to do more with an equal amount of funding, therefore improving capacity and patient care.

Originality/value

Through observing A&E and its ability to treat patients in a timely fashion it is clear the NHS is struggling to meet its performance objectives, the recommendation of Six-Sigma in A&E should improve the reliability and quality of care offered to patients.

Citation

Bancroft, J., Saha, K., Li, D., Lukacs, G. and Pierron, X. (2018), "Lean Six-Sigma: the means to healing an ailing NHS?", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 35 No. 9, pp. 1976-1988. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-01-2017-0006