Collaborative Action Programme

In June 2025 the Shelford Group launched its Collaborative Action Programme, a collective programme of work to be delivered across its Trusts, supporting core government priorities for the NHS and designed to have the potential for wider spread across the health service. You can read more about our current and previous workstreams below: 

 

  • The Shelford START programme
  • Using artificial intelligence to support Did Not Attend (DNA) reduction      
  • Early screening in elective pathways 

To find out more, please email info@shelfordgroup.org

1. The Shelford START programme  

As stated in the 10 Year Health Plan for England and the National Cancer Plan for England the NHS is committed to the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) as standard for an expanded range of procedures, over the next 10 years. To support this ambition, the Shelford Group partnered with the Newcastle Surgical Training Centre to develop the Shelford START programme. The START programme provides the opportunity for surgical trainees to develop their skills, knowledge and expertise in RAS, at an earlier stage in their career across Intuitive’s da Vinci, CMR Surgical’s Versius and Medtronic’s Hugo™ RAS surgical systems. 

Taking place over three to four years across four different phases, the programme reflects the complex and evolving skill set required for performance of safe and effective robotic surgery, providing sustained progressive development. The programme is being piloted in the North East, North West and East of England. Over 50 surgical trainees registered for the programme pilot which launched in 2025, with plans for expansion to additional regions and specialties in future years.

Read our START brochure and watch a video about the programme.

2. Using artificial intelligence to support Did Not Attend (DNA) reduction      

Members have been sharing learning on the effectiveness of a range of DNA reduction techniques including two way text messaging, self scheduling, partial booking and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reducing DNAs. AI prediction work is underway across a number of member trusts – with a range of transferable learnings from the solution originally piloted at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Members also contributed to a toolkit of core principles and targeted strategies to reduce DNAs in partnership with the Outpatient London Innovation Group (LIN).  Read more about the programme and case studies from Manchester, Guy’s and St Thomas, UCLH, King’s and Cambridge.

3. Early screening in elective pathways   

This project built on a pilot at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  to optimise waiting times in their anthroplasty service by comprehensively screening, triaging and risk assessing patients earlier on in elective pathways. This enables clinicians to identify modifiable risk factors that can reduce risk and improve health outcomes as well as to increase efficiency in planning and delivering elective surgical care.