When Consultant Connect first started providing rapid Telephone Advice & Guidance (A&G) to the NHS it was just GPs that used the service to speak to specialists. We are now providing access to a wider range of medics and community healthcare providers such as; Paramedics, Nurses, Pharmacists, Nurse Prescribers, Mental Health Clinicians, and Social Workers. Why? Telephone Advice & Guidance from Consultant Connect solves the difficulty of speaking to the right person when timely advice is really needed – especially if a patient’s needs are complex.
Clinicians use the Consultant Connect App or a unique Dial-in Number to speak to specialist clinicians for pre-referral advice and guidance over the telephone. Calls are answered by a rota of specialists in under 30 seconds (UK average).
- Used in 42 ICB/ HB areas covering over 40 million patients.
- 68% of calls avoid hospital visits in elective care, and 52% of calls avoid hospital visits in urgent care.
- Easy to set-up and use with benefits from day one – no hardware or training required.
- Reduces referrals and admissions for whole-system efficiencies – patients receive the right care, first time.
- Enjoy world-class support – our team handles set-up, communication and on-going engagement with clinicians, specialists and other stakeholders.
Why do clinicians and patients like it?
Why do commissioners like it?
Find out how our Mental Health Phone Advice & Guidance service can help support the right mental health referrals at the right time.
How it works
Primary care clinicians can also earn CPD credits when they use the Consultant Connect App for Advice & Guidance. Click to find out more.
Everything you need to know – in a few minutes…
Clinicians explain why immediate phone advice works for them
Phone A&G in action – Urgent Care
Consultant Connect in NHSE handbooks
Did you know Consultant Connect has been included in the NHS England’s Elective Care Transformation Team handbooks for gastro, dermatology and diabetes handbooks? Proof that Advice & Guidance works!
Phone Advice & Guidance Case Studies
Acute Frailty in Dorset | GP case study
We spoke with Dr Laura Godfrey, a GP in Dorset, to find out how the Acute Frailty line via Consultant Connect benefits her and her patients.
How Advice & Guidance is bridging the gap between physical and mental health in Northamptonshire
Enhanced Advice & Guidance provided by Consultant Connect has been connecting clinicians with specialists for rapid advice since 2016 in Northamptonshire ICB via telephone, photo and messaging. We spoke with a clinician at Berrywood Hospital, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to find out how Enhanced Advice & Guidance helps them.
How Consultant Connect is supporting Dermatology referrals in Calderdale
Consultant Connect spoke with Carrie Bottomley, Apprentice Healthcare Assistant and General Practitioner’s Assistant at Bankfield Surgery, to find out how PhotoSAF fits into her everyday role and benefits her patients.
GP case study: Enhanced Advice & Guidance in Oldham
In November 2022, Enhanced Advice & Guidance provided by Consultant Connect was launched in Greater Manchester ICB. We spoke with Dr Fathema Johura, a GP in Oldham, to find out how the service benefits her and her patients.
Contact us
For more information about how we work with commissioners, hospitals and mental health trusts to improve patient care, please get in touch.
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