Awarded to the Pathway to Equity initiative led by Dr Aicha Bouraoui & the UCLH Adolescent Rheumatology Team
Dr Aicha Bouraoui and the adolescent rheumatology team at UCLH are celebrating the national recognition of the Pathway to Equity initiative, which received the Strategic Impact Award at the Excellence in Clinical Audit Awards. The award recognises the team's commitment to reducing inequalities, improving access to healthcare and placing patients' experiences at the heart of service improvement.
Patient-Centred Care as a Clinical Foundation
As Lead of the Pathway to Equity initiative and Clinical Lead of RheumaLife Clinic, Dr Bouraoui sees patient-centred care as fundamental to delivering high-quality rheumatology. Rheumatic conditions often require long-term monitoring, shared decision-making and sustained engagement between patients and their clinical team.
Understanding the individual behind the diagnosis — their priorities, circumstances, concerns and preferences — is therefore central to achieving meaningful outcomes.
Combining Clinical Data with Lived Experience
The Pathway to Equity initiative demonstrated the value of combining clinical data with patients' lived experiences. Analysis of appointment data identified factors associated with missed appointments, including:
- Deprivation and socioeconomic barriers
- Distance from hospital
- Previous non-attendance patterns
This data analysis was complemented by meaningful engagement with young people, helping the team understand the wider social and practical barriers that can affect access to care.
"A missed or delayed appointment should not necessarily be viewed simply as a lack of engagement. It may reflect work or family commitments, travel difficulties, communication preferences or other personal circumstances that are not immediately apparent during a consultation."
Dr Aicha Bouraoui
Relevance to Private Rheumatology Practice
These principles are equally relevant to private rheumatology practice. At RheumaLife Clinic, the Pathway to Equity experience reinforces the importance of looking at the whole patient journey.
Accessible Communication
Clear explanations tailored to each patient's needs and preferences
Shared Decision-Making
Involving patients as active partners in their own care decisions
Digital Healthcare
Appropriate use of technology to improve access and engagement
Listening to Feedback
Incorporating patient feedback to shape and improve services
Working With Patients, Not Just Treating Them
For Dr Bouraoui, patient-centred care means working with patients rather than simply treating them. By understanding what matters to each individual and involving them in decisions about their care, clinicians can strengthen therapeutic relationships, improve engagement and support patients to take an active role in managing their condition.
The project also highlights how data and patient insight can work together to drive meaningful improvement. Data can identify where inequalities exist, while patients can help explain the reasons behind those inequalities and shape solutions that are practical and relevant to their lives.
A Foundation for Continued Improvement
For RheumaLife Clinic, this provides a strong foundation for continuing to develop a model of care that combines clinical expertise with patient experience and evidence-based improvement.
The Pathway to Equity award is therefore not only a recognition of an important UCLH project, but also a reflection of a wider clinical philosophy: excellent rheumatology care should be personalised, collaborative and centred on the individual patient.