We recently shared a summary of the results and some response extracts following a survey we sent to NHS stakeholders subscribed to our weekly CEO newsletter. Results from the short survey helped us understand what topics and content can support NHS areas with their challenges and key focus areas.
This short blog article details some of the ways Consultant Connect can help NHS areas start alleviating the pressures, address the challenges they are facing and start focussing on their key priorities:
1. Addressing capacity challenges
We have hundreds of NHS consultants available to take Advice & Guidance queries (telephone or written) and/or deliver referral triage. If you are short of staff, the National Consultant Network (NCN) can be switched on in just 24-48 hours. It can also be switched off as quickly too when it’s no longer needed. For a longer-term solution, the NHS consultants from the NCN can deliver your patient consultations and ward rounds using Telemedicine Devices. Click here to find out how some of our customers are using the NCN.
2. The role of technology within the NHS
Technology can help alleviate some of the recovery pressures NHS areas are facing. Our Advice & Guidance service is part of the central NHS landscape and is already playing a significant role in helping to accelerate recovery. Click here to find out how NHS areas are using Advice & Guidance to support recovery and improve patient care.
3. Restoring services and reducing waiting list backlogs
Our Referral Triage service can help hospital trusts needing additional temporary capacity for referrals. The service uses the expertise of the NHS consultants from our National Consultant Network (NCN) and is available to work through backlogs in bulk or back-up local clinicians (for backlogs and/or new referrals as they come in). All NCN consultants work as part of the local team and are briefed to follow local protocols and pathways. Click here to find out more about the outcomes and impact of our Referral Triage service.
4. Mental Health
When a health professional sees a patient that appears to have complex mental health needs, the natural inclination is often to refer to an NHS specialist. Yet in many instances, an immediate verbal conversation with an NHS specialist can render a referral unnecessary – improving patient care and providing system efficiencies. Our technology platform enables that near-instant sharing of such advice and guidance over the phone. Click here to find out more.
Since January 2021, Consultant Connect has been part of the Teladoc Group – the global leader in whole-person virtual care. The Teladoc myStrength platform, which offers full-spectrum digital mental health, is available to NHS areas. Click here to find out more.
5. Achieving targets set by the NHS
The latest 2022/23 priorities and operational planning guidance released in December 2021 confirms the ongoing need to restore services, meet new care demands, and reduce waiting lists built up from the pandemic. The good news is systems using Consultant Connect are well placed to meet the requirements in several ways. In this article, we share proven approaches that will help NHS areas meet the latest targets. Click here to find out how we can support the delivery of operational planning guidance requirements.
6. Forming an ICS
The Consultant Connect service is flexible and supports cross team / site collaboration (e.g. the ability to have shared specialty rotas cross hospital). ICSs are already using Consultant Connect for more integrated care by enabling access for different user groups (e.g. GPs, Community teams, Ambulance staff, Consultants, Nurses, Optometrists, Dentists and more). The agile configuration allows for easy expansion for a standardised approach across an ICS. Consultant Connect allows for agile ICS umbrella reporting, as well as place and/or trust level reporting.
7. Transformation / Pathway redesign / Best Practice & Examples
Through our case studies, blogs and regular webinars we are able to share successes across the UK to help shape transformation and pathway redesign. Our webinars allow industry leaders to share first-hand experiences.
8. Reporting
As an established NHS data stakeholder, we closely with the EROC team to support the coding and reporting requirements, meaning Consultant Connect data can be easily evaluated by the EROC team alongside data already available through the Outpatients CDS such as numbers of first outpatient attendances.
The Consultant Connect Dashboard allows for real-time reporting for all stakeholders.
Our dedicated Reporting and Analytics team support clients with their reporting needs, curating bespoke reports and helping to shape and identify both project successes as well as areas of opportunities.
Consultant Connect now integrates directly into existing patient record NHS workflows in England (Call activity, Photos and Messages). This integration has removed the need for this process to be conducted manually, which should free up valuable clinical and administrative time whilst ensuring accurate documentation of the patient’s condition/concern.
If you have any questions, or would like more information about how we can support your NHS area with your key focus areas, email hello@consultantconnect.org.uk or call us 01865 261 467.
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