Mae angen i systemau iechyd cymhleth sicrhau bod gofal yn cael ei ddarparu i gleifion mewn ffordd gydgysylltiedig. Mae byrddau iechyd ac ymddiriedolaethau’r GIG yn cynllunio gwasanaethau drwy lawer o wahanol leoliadau, fel practisau cyffredinol neu leoliadau gofal brys a gofal mewn argyfwng. Darperir y gwasanaethau hyn hefyd drwy wahanol dimau arbenigol ar gyfer cleifion allanol, fel meddygaeth anadlol neu ddialysis arennol. Mae datganiadau ansawdd yn helpu i roi pwyslais ar agweddau penodol wrth gynllunio gwasanaethau gofal iechyd yn unol â llwybrau clinigol, sef taith unigolion drwy system gofal iechyd gymhleth i drin neu reoli eu cyflwr. Gall edrych yn fanylach ar wasanaethau ar hyd llwybr claf fod o gymorth i’r GIG sicrhau bod pob unigolyn yn cael y gofal yr argymhellir ar ei gyfer a bod pob ymdrech bosibl yn cael ei gwneud i drefnu darpariaeth ddi-dor gan y gwahanol dimau ar hyd y llwybr hwnnw. Mae hefyd yn caniatáu i'r GIG fonitro canlyniadau; y canlyniadau hynny sy'n bwysig i gleifion, yn ogystal â'r rhai sy'n dweud wrthym fod y gwasanaethau a'r llwybrau yn gwneud yr hyn a fwriadwyd. O ganlyniad, bydd cyfle’n codi i newid llwybrau gofal er mwyn gwella profiadau a chanlyniadau cleifion.
Complex health systems need to ensure joined up care for patients. Health boards and NHS trusts plan services through many different settings, such as general practice or urgent and emergency care settings; as well as through different specialist outpatient teams, such as respiratory medicine or renal dialysis. Quality statements help to focus the planning of healthcare services according to clinical pathways – people’s individual journey through a complex healthcare system to treat or manage their condition. Looking at services along a patient pathway helps the NHS to ensure people are getting the recommended care they need and that services delivered by different teams along that pathway are arranged to be as seamless as possible. It also allows the NHS to monitor outcomes; those outcomes that are important to patients, as well as those that tell us the services and pathways are doing what they are intended to do. This provides opportunities to change pathways of care to improve patient experience and outcomes.