Healthcare / Free editable template

Patient pathway timeline template

A pathway timeline shows how long a patient spends waiting compared with receiving care. This example follows one elective pathway from GP referral through triage, first appointment, scan and decision to surgery on a weeks axis, highlights the waits between steps, marks the 18-week referral-to-treatment standard and records what the patient said at each wait.

This is a planning example for process improvement, not clinical guidance. Follow your organisation's policies and clinical protocols.

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Patient pathway timeline example showing pathway steps on a weeks axis, waits highlighted between steps, 18-week standard and patient comments
Everything in this example is editable. Replace the labels, move the shapes and adapt the layout to your work.

How to use this template

  1. Pick one pathway

    Choose a common pathway in your specialty and use real dates from a recent patient, with their consent, or typical median waits.

  2. Separate waiting from care

    Mark each care step and highlight the gaps between them. The gaps are usually where most of the time goes.

  3. Add the patient's words

    Record what patients said about each wait. Use the longest and most frustrating wait as the first target.

Questions about this template

How do I change the weeks axis for my pathway?

Move each step along the weeks axis to the week it happened and resize the waits between them. Swap the 18-week line for your own target if you work to a different standard.

Do I need an account to use it?

No. Open the template and edit it in your browser. Your work saves on this device. An account is optional if you want to sync your workspace.

Can I export the finished diagram?

Yes. Use Export in the editor to save a PNG, SVG or PDF, or download an editable .epicdraw backup.

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