NHS National Services Scotland - National Demand Optimisation Group
The NHS National Services Scotland - National Demand Optimisation Group provides essential guidance and strategies for optimising diagnostic test use across NHS Scotland. This includes minimizing over- and under-requesting, reducing unnecessary repeat requests, and standardizing test availability. They also collect and analyze diagnostic workload data to identify variations and gaps in test availability, supporting evidence-based decision-making. Collaborative project support is offered to facilitate multi-disciplinary collaboration across NHS Boards. Most interactions occur during standard NHS Scotland business hours, and typically involve NHS Board representatives and official channels. Common reasons for calling include seeking guidance on diagnostic test optimization and accessing diagnostic data reports.
Updated 15 Dec 2025
Expected outcomes
- Receive diagnostic test guidance
- Access diagnostic data reports
- Participate in collaborative projects
- Implement demand optimization strategies
- Standardize test availability
Call preparation
Assemble everything before you dial. These requirements are verified by our call analysts and updated as organizations change their scripts.
- NHS Scotland credentials
- Contact details
- Diagnostic service details
- Nature of request
- Region or practice details
- NHS Board representative participation
Known issues
A frequent issue faced by the National Demand Optimisation Group is significant variation in diagnostic test requesting across NHS Boards, leading to both over- and under-requesting. To address this, ongoing implementation of national guidance and dashboards is in place to monitor and reduce unwarranted variation. Another issue is the inequality of access to high-value tests, which is occasionally reported. This is being tackled by disinvesting in low-value tests and redeploying resources to improve access. Callers may experience delays during peak times, so contacting during off-peak hours is advisable. Online resources and dashboards can often provide immediate assistance.
