Patient Flow Lead

The Patient Flow Lead will support the delivery of safe, effective and timely patient flow across the hospital, working closely with clinical, operational and site management teams to maintain site safety, optimise bed capacity and support timely discharge.

The post holder will provide visible operational leadership for patient flow processes, supporting the Clinical Site Team, wards, discharge services and divisional teams to identify and resolve barriers to flow. They will contribute to the delivery of Trust-wide patient flow priorities, including the implementation of the National FOCUSED model, escalation processes, daily operational grip and improved use of data to support decision-making.

The role will work collaboratively with internal teams and system partners to improve patient pathways, reduce delays, support safe discharge and improve patient experience. The post holder will also contribute to performance reporting, service improvement, standard operating procedures and the development of consistent ways of working across patient flow and site operations.

The Patient Flow Lead will support the delivery of safe, effective and timely patient flow across the Trust, ensuring patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time. The post holder will work with clinical, operational and site teams to coordinate patient flow, optimise bed capacity and support timely discharge.

Working across services, the post holder will identify and address barriers to flow, supporting wards and operational teams to reduce delays and improve patient pathways. They will monitor operational performance, use data to identify risks and opportunities, and support delivery of key access, discharge and flow standards.

The role will involve close collaboration with acute, community and system partners to improve patient journeys, reduce avoidable length of stay and support safe discharge. The post holder will contribute to service improvement initiatives, pathway redesign and the implementation of best practice patient flow processes.

The Patient Flow Lead will provide leadership and support to staff, promote continuous improvement and contribute to governance, risk management, audit and assurance processes. They will ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures, support operational reporting and undertake duties consistent with the responsibilities and grade of the role.

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

By working together, we make a real difference for our patients, each other, and our community. Every role matters in delivering the exceptional, person‑centred care we’re proud of.

We’re committed to a compassionate, inclusive culture where kindness is championed, differences are valued, and diversity makes us stronger.

We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential. We prioritise staff wellbeing – and yes, we even have a pool!

Discover what it’s like to live and work in Bath, explore our RUH staff benefits, and learn how we’re building healthcare for the future through the Dyson Cancer Centre and our commitment to research.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Sarah Hudson Job title: Deputy Chief Operating Officer UEC Email address: sarahhudson@nhs.net Telephone number: 07813199479