How Clinical Insourcing Is Helping NHS Trusts Reduce Backlogs and Recover Elective Services in 2025
Introduction
With elective recovery a national priority and waiting lists still placing considerable strain on NHS services, trusts are under pressure to find flexible, sustainable ways to expand capacity and improve access to care — without overstretching internal teams or sacrificing governance.
One increasingly vital solution is clinical insourcing: bringing skilled external Healthcare Professionals into NHS facilities to support and deliver additional services during evenings, weekends, or other out-of-hours periods.
By supporting the workforce and making better use of existing NHS infrastructure, insourcing allows trusts to increase throughput, reduce waiting times, and maintain full control over patient pathways.
In this guide, we’ll explore how clinical insourcing works in practice, how it compares to outsourcing, and — most importantly — why it’s helping NHS organisations tackle backlogs, hit RTT targets, and deliver excellent care.
Contents
- What Is Clinical Insourcing – And Why It Works
- Framework-Approved and Governance-Aligned
- Where Clinical Insourcing Delivers the Most Value – ID Medical in Action
- Insourcing vs Outsourcing: What Trusts Need to Consider
- Why NHS Trusts Choose ID Medical
- Partnering With ID Medical for Long-Term Improvements
What Is Clinical Insourcing – And Why It Works
Clinical insourcing involves bringing in pre-vetted external healthcare professionals to deliver services on-site within NHS hospitals and clinics. This enables trusts to expand capacity without outsourcing patients to third-party facilities.
The NHS retains:
- Full operational control
- Oversight of clinical governance and safety
- Continuity of the patient journey within NHS systems
It’s an agile, resource-efficient model that supports:
- Elective care recovery
- Diagnostics and imaging
- Specialist outpatient services
By maximising the use of NHS facilities — particularly during evenings and weekends — insourcing helps increase throughput while preserving care quality.
Framework-Approved and Governance-Aligned
Insourcing can be procured via the NHS Insourcing Framework Agreement, available through all of the following Frameworks:
- NHS Shared Business Services
- Workforce Alliance RM6276
- NHS Wales
- Countess of Chester On-site Surgical & Medical Capacity
- NHS Scotland DPS Framework
As a pre-approved provider on these Frameworks, ID Medical can offer:
- Rapid mobilisation across specialities
- Full compliance with NHS procurement protocols
- Transparent pricing and robust governance alignment
- Seamless integration with local systems and teams
This ensures fast access to capacity-boosting services, without compromising clinical or financial governance.
Where Clinical Insourcing Delivers the Most Value – ID Medical in Action
At ID Medical, we partner with NHS trusts and health boards to deliver rapid, high-quality care across a wide range of specialities. Here’s where we’re making a difference:
Dermatology Services Across Wales and the South East
Earlier this year, we mobilised dermatology outpatient and minor ops services across:
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (3 sites)
- Amersham Hospital, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
✔ Full Clinical Teams including Consultants, HCAs and Specialist Nurses
✔ In-week delivery
✔ Full patient pathway supported
✔ Hundreds of patients treated in the first month alone
“One of the smoothest implementations I’ve seen in 26 years. Keep doing what you’re doing!”
—Associate Director of Planned Care, Wales
ENT Surgery Expansion at Sherwood Forest NHS Foundation Trust
We expanded our contract to include:
- ENT surgical services for both adult and paediatric patients
- Procedures such as septoplasties and tonsillectomies
- Full multidisciplinary Theatre Teams (Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Nurses)
Urology LATP Services at Royal United Hospitals Bath
We launched a new LATP urology clinic, delivering:
- Consultant-led care with specialist support
- Full insourced teams
- Procedures delivered on-site, reducing reliance on outsourcing
In just one month, our teams treated over 600 patients across these new and expanded services — all within NHS infrastructure, without disrupting core services.
Why NHS Trusts Choose ID Medical
✅ Proven delivery across many specialties
✅ Rapid deployment, even during pressure periods
✅ Framework-approved and CQC-aligned
✅ End-to-end support, from planning through to post-delivery evaluation
✅ Exceptional client satisfaction, with average scores of 99%
Whether you need outpatient clinics, diagnostics, or additional theatre sessions, ID Medical delivers responsive, high-quality care at scale.
Partnering With ID Medical for Long-Term Improvements
Clinical insourcing is no longer just a short-term fix — it’s a long-term lever to unlock NHS capacity, safeguard quality, and accelerate performance improvement.
If you’re exploring options to reduce waiting lists or expand capacity, we’re ready to support you with scalable solutions that work.
Contact us today to learn more about partnering with ID Medical:
www.id-medical.com/clinical-services
Call: +44 (0) 1908 525 756
Email: clinicalservices@id-medical.com