Healthcare systems face challenges in optimising clinical workflows to deliver timely and effective patient care. One critical and often overlooked area is the design and management of flow navigation, particularly in unscheduled care. This PhD project will work across the University of Strathclyde and the Flow Navigation Centre Plus (FNC+) in NHS Lanarkshire to develop new models of care delivery and management. FNC+ has been established to collect and evaluate patient flow data throughout NHS Lanarkshire from police and ambulance emergencies to hospital bed management. From this data emerges a pattern of life for the health board with a complex interplay of environmental and NHS driven factors influencing the health system’s performance and capacity. The next phase of development for FNC+ aligns with the project goals of understanding and predicting patient flow to design a more effective system that can respond rapidly to demand. The PhD project will use an engineering systems design approach to study flow network patterns in FNC+ data, model possible pathway interventions and work with NHS Lanarkshire to enable redesign in an evolving health system. You will spend time embedded with the FNC+ team to benefit from their experience and insights, while providing a direct avenue for real-world research impact.

Further information

The Studentship is expected to start on 7 October 2025 on-site in Glasgow. The candidate will be joining the vibrant PhD Community at the University of Strathclyde in general and the Leonardo Suite at DMEM in particular.  Dr Gordon McNeish will be external supervisor from NHS Lanarkshire / FNC+.