NHS Pathways
What is NHS Pathways?—ANSWER--A suite of hundreds of interlinked questions
arranged in symptom-based flows. Also includes a directory of relevant services in the
patient's local area (DoS).
How many modules does Pathways have and what do they do?—ANSWER--Three
Module 0- Rules out life threatening problems
Module 1- Symptom- based assessment using a large number of pathways, which is
presented in a body map
Module 2- The system used by clinicians
When should you use the injury pathway?—ANSWER--If symptoms are from trauma in
the last 7 days
When should you use the illness pathway?—ANSWER--If symptoms are from trauma
more than 7 days ago, not physical wounds or symptoms arising from the injury, (pain
discharge)
What two things should be asked when somebody says they have an injury?—ANSWER-
-How the injury happened/what is hurt and when it happened.
, What does the 'not sure' answer stem act as?—ANSWER--Depending on the balance of
risk 'not sure' sometimes acts as a 'yes' or a 'no'. Three 'not sure' answer stems should
be transfer to clinician
Why does Pathways ask age related questions?—ANSWER--Because adults and
children need to be assessed and treated differently
Why does Pathways ask pregnancy related questions?—ANSWER--Because pregnancy
can make a difference to the way a woman needs to be assessed/ treated. For example:
Diff breathing- pt needs an ambulance either way
Abdominal pain- Could/could not be pregnancy related
What is the age range that pregnancy questions will be asked?—ANSWER--11 to 55
years
What is a question?—ANSWER--Presented by the system to be answered by the caller
What is the question rationale?—ANSWER--Explanation of why a question is being
asked
What is an answer stem—ANSWER--Division of each question that needs answering
(normally in highest acuity order)
What is supporting information?—ANSWER--Explanation of what each answer stem
means. Can be used when a caller needs a question rephrasing.
What is the body map?—ANSWER--Area between Module 0 and module 1 where
user selects a symptom-based pathway
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
What is NHS Pathways?—ANSWER--A suite of hundreds of interlinked questions
arranged in symptom-based flows. Also includes a directory of relevant services in the
patient's local area (DoS).
How many modules does Pathways have and what do they do?—ANSWER--Three
Module 0- Rules out life threatening problems
Module 1- Symptom- based assessment using a large number of pathways, which is
presented in a body map
Module 2- The system used by clinicians
When should you use the injury pathway?—ANSWER--If symptoms are from trauma in
the last 7 days
When should you use the illness pathway?—ANSWER--If symptoms are from trauma
more than 7 days ago, not physical wounds or symptoms arising from the injury, (pain
discharge)
What two things should be asked when somebody says they have an injury?—ANSWER-
-How the injury happened/what is hurt and when it happened.
, What does the 'not sure' answer stem act as?—ANSWER--Depending on the balance of
risk 'not sure' sometimes acts as a 'yes' or a 'no'. Three 'not sure' answer stems should
be transfer to clinician
Why does Pathways ask age related questions?—ANSWER--Because adults and
children need to be assessed and treated differently
Why does Pathways ask pregnancy related questions?—ANSWER--Because pregnancy
can make a difference to the way a woman needs to be assessed/ treated. For example:
Diff breathing- pt needs an ambulance either way
Abdominal pain- Could/could not be pregnancy related
What is the age range that pregnancy questions will be asked?—ANSWER--11 to 55
years
What is a question?—ANSWER--Presented by the system to be answered by the caller
What is the question rationale?—ANSWER--Explanation of why a question is being
asked
What is an answer stem—ANSWER--Division of each question that needs answering
(normally in highest acuity order)
What is supporting information?—ANSWER--Explanation of what each answer stem
means. Can be used when a caller needs a question rephrasing.
What is the body map?—ANSWER--Area between Module 0 and module 1 where
user selects a symptom-based pathway
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
