The Government recently announced it would invest £30 million in innovative technology for the NHS to ensure patients are better supported whilst easing pressures on hospitals this winter.
Here are three ways Consultant Connect’s innovative tech can help
1. Integrated care systems (ICSs) will be invited to submit bids for a share of £30 million to roll out innovative technology:
As the UK’s most widely used Enhanced Advice & Guidance system, for the last eight years, Consultant Connect tech has been supporting NHS areas to reduce pressures and improve patient care all year round.
Rapid telephone advice helps reduce unnecessary patient conveyances and admissions and ensures patients are directed to the most appropriate place first time.
Impact of rapid telephone advice in Urgent and Emergency Care:
- 52% of GP calls to Urgent Care specialties avoid unnecessary patient admissions.
- 47% of calls to SDEC lines result in patients avoiding A&E and being directed to the right place first time.
- 36% of calls from ambulance staff avoid unnecessary patient conveyances.
2. Effective use of the latest medical technology can help cut waiting lists, with the potential to speed up diagnoses and improve care for patients:
Our NHS consultant-led Referral Triage and Validation service clears waiting list backlogs in bulk and/or new referrals as they come in.
The service brings in the clinical expertise of NHS consultants working as ‘virtual locums’, following local pathways and protocols, under the leadership of the local clinical leads.
Our switch-on/switch-off model means as local capacities change, the service can be increased to cover more specialties, reduced or turned off completely with 72 hours’ notice.
Over 50,000 referrals have been clinically triaged via the service to date, resulting in an average of 28% of patients coming off the waiting list and getting the care they need immediately. It’s the cheapest, quickest way of cutting waiting lists and improving patient care.
3. Technology could include virtual wards to help care for patients at home, or wearable devices to monitor chronic conditions remotely – easing winter pressures and supporting the workforce:
Our overnight advice service for virtual wards is set up so that clinicians (e.g., nurses) can call GPs if patients’ conditions change and need assessing.
One of our examples covers two trusts in the South East. From 8pm – 8am, 7 days a week, ward nurses have access to remote advice provided by GPs to discuss patient conditions before a decision is made regarding an admission. Our model launched in December 2022, and of the total number of calls received to date, 76% have resulted in patients avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions*.
The importance of overnight access to advice for virtual wards reduces the number of patients admitted unnecessarily. This service also provides reassurance for patients and their families that there is a clinician available at the touch of a button when needed.
The flexibility of our service means that it can be altered to fit the needs of your NHS area, for example, as a direct line for virtual ward patients or their carers to GPs.
*Based on calls where outcomes were left.
If you have any questions or would like to find out how Consultant Connect can support your NHS area, email hello@consultantconnect.org.uk or call us on 01865 261 467
Related links:
- Enhanced Advice & Guidance: Performance Benchmarks
- In The Press
- National Consultant Network
- Referral Triage and Validation service
