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Important: please update your RDS app to version 4.7.3 Details with newsletter below.

Please update your RDS app to v4.7.3

We asked you in January to update to v4.7.2.  After the deployment planned for 27th February, this new update will be needed to ensure that you are able to download RDS toolkits even when the RDS website is not available. We will wait until as many users as possible have downloaded the new version before switching off the old system for app downloads and moving entirely to the new approach.

To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. 

To update to the latest release:

 On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Right Decision Service newsletter: February 2025

Welcome to the February 2025 update from the RDS team

1.     Next release of RDS

 

A new release of RDS is planned (subject to outcomes of current testing) for week beginning 24th February. This will deliver:

 

  • Fixes to mitigate the recurring glitches with the RDS admin area and the occasional brief user interface outages which have arisen following implementation of the new distributed technology infrastructure in December 2024.

 

  • Capability to embed content from Google calendar, Google Maps, Daily Motion, Twitter feeds, Microsoft Stream into RDS pages.

 

  • Capability to include simple multiplication in RDS calculators.

 

The release will also incorporate a number of small fixes, including:

  • Exporting of form within Medicines Sick Day Guidance in polypharmacy toolkit
  • Links to redundant content appearing in search in some RDS toolkits
  • Inclusion of accordion headers alongside accordion text in search result snippets.
  • Feedback form on mobile app.
  • Internal links on mobile app version of benzo tapering tool

 

We will let you know when the date and time for the new release are confirmed.

 

2.     New RDS developments

There is now the capability to publish toolkits on the web with left hand side navigation rather than tiles on the homepage. To use this feature, turn on the “Toggle navigation panel” option at the top of the Page settings menu at toolkit homepage level – see below. Please note that publication to downloadable mobile app for this type of navigation is still under development.

The Benzodiazepine tapering tool (https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/benzotapering) is now available as part of the RDS toolkit for the national benzodiazepine prescribing guidance developed by the Scottish Government Effective Prescribing team. The tool uses this national guidance developed with a wide-ranging multidisciplinary group. This should be used in combination with professional judgement and an understanding of the needs of the individual patient.

3.     Archiving and version control and new RDS Search and Browse interface

Due to the intensive work Tactuum has had to undertake on the new technology infrastructure has pushed back the delivery dates again and some new requirements have come out of the recent user acceptance testing. It now looks likely to be an April release for the search and browse interface. The archiving and version control functionality may be released earlier. We’ll keep you posted.

4.     Statistics

At the end of January, Olivia completed the generation of the latest set of usage statistics for all RDS toolkits. If you would like a copy of the stats for your toolkit, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot .

 

5.     Review of content past its review date

We have now generated reports of all RDS toolkit content that has exceeded its review date by 6 months or more. We will be in touch later this month with toolkit owners and editors to agree the plan for updating or withdrawing out of date content.

 

6.     Toolkits in development

Some important toolkits in development by the RDS team include:

  • National CVD prevention pathways – due for release end of March 2025.
  • National respiratory pathways, optimal cancer diagnostic pathways and cancer prehabilitation pathways from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery. We will shortly start work on the national cancer referral pathways, first version due for release via RDS around end of June 2025.
  • HIS Quality of Care Review toolkit – currently in final stages of quality assurance.

 

The RDS team and other information scientists in HIS have also been producing evidence summaries for the Scottish Government Realistic Medicine team, to inform development of national guidance around Procedures of Limited Clinical Value. This guidance will in due course be translated into an RDS toolkit.

 

7. Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:

  • Friday 28th February 12-1 pm
  • Tuesday 11th March 4-5 pm

 

To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)

 

To invite colleagues to sign up to receive this newsletter, please signpost them to the registration form  - also available in End-user and Provider sections of the RDS Learning and Support area.   If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot  If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.

With kind regards

 

Right Decision Service team

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

 

 

Disclaimer

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) provides the ‘CfSD Neurology’ app/website to help the people it serves across Scotland. Each individual participating organisation which contributes resources to the App/Website has sole responsibility for the information created or published by them. Any information appearing on the App/Website is issued as general information, is not warranted by the CfSD, nor should it be taken as advice. No responsibility can be accepted by the CfSD or any other organisation for action or inaction as a result of information contained on the App/Website. Users should take advice from health and care professionals in respect of specific situations. The use and access of pages of the App/Website is subject to the terms and conditions set out below and by this disclaimer. By using or accessing the App/Website, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Links to other websites and applications

The provision on the App/Website of a link to another website or application does not constitute any authorisation to access material held at that location. Links to sites are provided for informational purposes only and no responsibility is accepted for the quality of resources to be found on such websites. The contents and material made available on linked sites are completely out with the CfSD’s control and as such no liability is accepted for any loss or damage resulting from accessing or failing to access these sites. No endorsement is expressed or implied by the presence of a link on the  App/Website. The contents of a linked-to website may change without the CfSD’s knowledge and as a result, links may break or may terminate on pages which were not the original targets of a link. No responsibility or liability for the privacy of personal information is accepted for linked to websites, as these are beyond the Board’s control.

Warranties

The resources contained on the App/Website, including all files that are authorised for public and password-protected download or access, are provided on an “as is” basis and without any warranties. No warranty is given that files downloaded or accessed from the  App/Website are free of computer viruses. No warranties are made as to fitness for purpose, quality or completeness of information. The App/Website excludes any liability for any errors in or omissions in information provided on or linked to from the App/Website.

Reliability of information

The CfSD uses reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of information on the App/Website in accordance with the policies defined for the App/Website . However, no guarantees are made that the information contained on the App/Website  or associated, or linked to websites is accurate, complete and current at any given time. Information presented on the App/Website  or associated sites may be changed at any time. The resources made available on the App/Website are intended to assist  and support people to best manage their mental health and related needs. The App/Website is not intended in any way to replace the advice of health and care professionals. Nothing on the App/Website is intended to constitute advice. Specific advice should be sought in specific situations from a properly qualified health or care professional. Content on the App/Website is governed by a number of policies and guidelines. Users of the App/Website should inform the web team using the Feedback form  if they should come across any material contained which they consider to be potentially in breach of any of the published  Scottish Government or NHS Scotland policies or of any relevant legislation in order for the appropriate remedial action to be taken.

Availability of the App/Website

Although the App/Website has been tested and should work correctly under normal circumstance, there are many factors both within and outside of the control of the Board which may prevent the App/Website from being available to users of the world-wide-web. No responsibility is accepted by the Board for any losses that may arise from an inability to access resources on the App/Website. Where a user finds a specific error in the coding of a web page, or where they consider a page to be in breach of accessibility or other published policies of the App/Website, the user should notify the web team via the feedback form in order that appropriate action may be taken.

Governing laws

The terms and conditions of use of the App/Website shall be governed by the laws of Scotland.

 

Purpose and audience

The Scottish Government commissions the Centre for Sustainable Delivery to support a Neurology Specialty Delivery Group (SDG) to develop a number of 'Once for Scotland' pathways to reduce unwarranted variation and sustainably improve waiting times for non-urgent care.

Our Neurology SDG brings together clinical, operational and managerial experts from across NHS Scotland and Scottish Government. Membership includes a nominated clinical, nursing and management lead from all NHS Scotland Boards providing Neurology services.

Purpose: to provide key information on the diagnosis, investigation and management of neurological conditions in one location to improve patient management, reduce unwarranted variation and sustainably improve waiting times for non-urgent care.

Audience: May vary on pathway but would generally include Prescribing Pharmacists, General Practitioners, General Practitioners with specialist interest, Physicians in ED and Acute Medicine, Neurologists etc.

Please note that while this toolkit is available for members of the public to access, it should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

 

Governance

The Scottish Government commissions the Centre for Sustainable Delivery to support a Neurology Specialty Delivery Group (SDG) to develop a number of 'Once for Scotland' pathways to reduce unwarranted variation and sustainably improve waiting times for non-urgent care.

Our Neurology SDG brings together clinical, operational and managerial experts from across NHS Scotland and Scottish Government. Membership includes a nominated clinical, nursing and management lead from all NHS Scotland Boards providing Neurology services.

 

Key author, reviewer and approver roles

Author will be named on each distinct pathway, content will be reviewed by SDG, and approved by the CfSD Sign off Group.

 

Details of clinical review of content at point of publication

A review is undertaken and included in each distinct pathway

 

Arrangements for review and updating of content - including responsibilities and planned review date(s)

Review dates will be assigned to each pathway, reviewed by SDG, and updated by the National Improvement Advisor as required

 

Outline of process used for systematic sourcing and evaluation of evidence to underpin the toolkit

A Pathway Development Group is established for each new pathway. This is comprised of various clinical experts. The Groups hold meetings via MS Teams where members bring forward and discuss evidence base and best practice to form the basis of the pathway.

The contents of this Neurology app are overseen by the SDG, who have responsibility for ensuring that content is current and correct, regularly reviewed and updated as required, as well as scrutinising and approving any new content for publication.

 

Details of the governance body and process which approved content and the toolkit at point of go-live

All pathways are developed and agreed by a Pathway Development Group, approved by the Specialty Delivery Group (SDG), and signed off by the CfSD Sign Off Group

 

Details of the governance arrangements for ongoing development and updating of the toolkit

As above

 

Confirmation that any guidance within the toolkit that references medicines has been signed off by the local Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee for territorial Boards or an equivalent governance group for national resources

All clinical content (including information relevant to drugs) are developed in accordance with the CfSD pathway development process. This includes approval by experts on the relevant Specialty Delivery Group and subsequent review and endorsement by the CfSD Primary Care Secondary Care Interface Group and CfSD Pathway Approval Group.

 

Risks to safety of patients/service users have been identified and mitigated

EQIA will be undertaken for each pathway, where any issues would be identified and mitigations put in place.

 

Functional testing, usability testing and user acceptance testing have been carried out

Pathways are developed and scrutinised by clinical leads from ach Board. Boards are asked to share data and experience of implementation of new pathways with SDG quarterly as relevant, with a view to refining and improving.

 

A plan has been defined for monitoring and acting on feedback and complaints

The Neurology Clinical Lead, Workstream Lead, and National Improvement Advisor would be responsible for managing any feedback or complaints arising.

 

Copyright

The content of this toolkit complies with copyright legislation, all sources appropriately referenced and permission obtained for reuse of content.

Copyright © Centre for Sustainable Delivery 2023

This excludes the works of 3rd parties as listed below:

  • Stephen Silberstein

All icons are sourced from Flaticon.com, accessed through the licence held by Tactuum Ltd as software provider of the RDS platform. 

 

Accessibility

The content of this resource has been produced in line with web accessibility standards. For information on the accessibility of the Right Decision Service platform technology, see the "About this site" page.

 

Key contact

Enquiries: gjnh.cfsdpmo@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk

 

Keep up to date:

www.nhscfsd.co.uk

www.twitter.com/nhsscotcfsd

www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-sustainable-delivery

 

Feedback

If you have any feedback or comments about this app, please take the time to complete our feedback form below: