- GPs in Leicester used med-tech over 9,340 times in the last 12 months to get advice from specialists
- As a result nearly 7,000 patients (75%) avoided an unnecessary trip to hospital
- Government is now offering cash to GPs to seek advice and guidance from specialists
Consultant Connect’s Advice and Guidance (A&G) technology connects primary clinicians, such as GPs and paramedics, with hospital consultants for expert advice and guidance. The tech has helped nearly 7,000 patients in Leicester avoid unnecessary hospital trips in the last 12 months.
Calls are connected in 37 seconds on average and clinicians in Leicester have placed 7,637 calls and sent 1,703 messages in the last 12 months.
The tech has been particularly effective for patients with diabetes. Doctors from the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) ICB have placed over 5,700 calls for advice on patients with diabetes since 2016. Doctors were connected in 20 seconds on average, and over 3,000 patients avoided an unnecessary trip to hospital as a result of calls.
Labour’s reforms require doctors to use A&G to increase the proportion of patients treated in the most appropriate setting by March 2026. This project in Leicester and Leicestershire provides a template for other Trusts to follow to do the same.
Jonathan Patrick, CEO of Consultant Connect said: “It’s fantastic to see the government use common sense and incentivise GPs to use Advice & Guidance before they refer a patient. Nobody wants to be on a waiting list for months if they can get the care they need immediately. It’s an extra step for the GP, who will now receive a payment for their effort, and the NHS will reduce waiting times whilst saving money to boot. It’s a win-win!”
“University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has been ahead of the game on this for years, and we hope Trusts and ICBs across the country see how easy it is to put these reforms in place and follow their lead.”
Steve Jackson, Consultant Physician and Associate Chief Medical Information Officer, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said: "The adoption of Consultant Connect across various services has been a game-changer in Leicester. In my own specialty of diabetes and endocrinology, for example, our clinicians have embraced the technology and it’s made their lives easier while making sure patients don’t face the stress of waiting in hospital unnecessarily. We’re excited to see how increased adoption can help patients across the country as it has done for us. NHS staff need all the help they can get, especially during the winter months."