This article explains how UCLP Population Risk Stratification is presented and used within Ardens Manager, including what the Priority groups mean, how they are applied across long-term conditions, and how practices can view and filter UCLP priority cohorts.
UCLP Population Risk Stratification is a clinically defined framework created by UCLP.
It is separate from Ardens concepts such as Continuity of Care (RAG) and should be used only for UCLP pathway delivery, long-term condition management, and population health programmes.
Practices should always apply local clinical judgement alongside these groupings.
What is UCLP Population Risk Stratification?
UCLP Population Risk Stratification is a condition-specific prioritisation model used to segment patients into Priority groups based on clinical indicators recorded in the patient record.
The purpose is to support:
Proactive long-term condition management
Targeted reviews and interventions
Consistent delivery of UCLP pathways and programmes
Population-level planning across practices, PCNs, and ICBs
Each condition has its own priority logic, and a patient may appear in different priorities for different conditions.
Conditions included in UCLP stratification
UCLP risk stratification is available for the following long-term conditions:
Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Cardiovascular Disease – Primary Prevention (CVD-PP)
Cardiovascular Disease – Secondary Prevention (CVD-SP)
Hypertension (HTN)
Diabetes
Each condition uses UCLP-defined criteria to allocate patients into priority cohorts.
Understanding UCLP Priority groups
Patients are grouped into Priority levels and the number and structure varies by condition. Typically:
Priority 1 – highest clinical priority
Priority 2 / 2a / 2b
Priority 3 / 3a / 3b
Priority 4
Priority 5 (where applicable)
Priority assignment is based on coded clinical data, for example:
Diagnosis
Disease severity indicators
Clinical measurements
Relevant reviews or assessments (e.g. CAT score for COPD)
Where required data is missing, patients may appear in an “unknown” or review-required priority group.
How UCLP risk stratification is used
Common use cases include:
Identifying highest-priority patients for proactive review
Structuring call and recall for long-term condition management
Supporting UCLP-commissioned pathways and programmes
Understanding unmet need or data quality gaps
Monitoring delivery across practices or PCNs
UCLP priority groups are intended to support clinical prioritisation, not replace clinician decision-making.
How to access UCLP Priority groups in Ardens Manager
Within Ardens Manager, UCLP risk stratification is available in the Risk section of relevant condition registers.
It is displayed as:
Priority cohort indicators within registers
Filters allowing users to view individual priority groups
To view
Open the relevant condition register or dashboard
Select View on the report
Navigate to the Risk tab
Locate the UCLP Priority indicators for the condition
To filter by priority
Select Filter
Expand Risk
Choose the relevant UCLP Priority field (e.g. UCLP | COPD – Priority)
Select one or more priority groups (e.g. Priority 1, Priority 2a)
Select Apply
Data quality and review
Ardens Manager includes UCLP-aligned case finder reports to support review and validation of priority assignment.
These reports help identify:
Patients missing key data required for stratification
Patients in unknown or review-required priority groups
Patients whose clinical status may have changed
Variations in priority distribution across practices or PCNs
Case finders support safe, consistent, and clinically appropriate use of UCLP prioritisation.