For over a decade, Consultant Connect has been supporting NHS healthcare professionals in accessing rapid clinical advice when it’s needed most. Our latest benchmark data shows calls and messages to acute services grew by 11% in 2024/25 compared with 2023/24. This increase reflects the growing demand for fast, reliable access to specialists, as set out in NHSE’s urgent and emergency care plan 2025/26.
Speed remains critical, and 80% of all calls are answered the first time and within 30 seconds, on average. This means no wasted time on busy switchboards, with clinical discussions prioritised so patients can be quickly directed to the most appropriate pathway.
The impact is clear: 77% of calls to Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) lines result in patients avoiding A&E and being managed in the right setting, freeing up hospital specialists to see those who truly need them. In NHS Tayside, the introduction of a ‘Call Before You Convey’ model via Consultant Connect has delivered measurable results, with 15 fewer patients admitted per day compared to the national average – protecting valuable hospital capacity.
Pre-alert lines further enhance patient safety, ensuring ED teams are ready to receive critical patients the moment they arrive. For less urgent cases, our IG-secure Messaging Advice & Guidance (A&G) service provides an efficient way to seek advice or book patients directly into clinics, with the added benefit of sharing important documents and clinical photos.
The combination of rapid telephone advice and flexible digital solutions is helping NHS teams across the UK deliver faster, safer care – reducing unnecessary admissions, and ensuring patients are seen in the right place, the first time.
Feedback from our users:
‘The ease of getting almost-instant advice from a number of specialties, bypassing switchboard and bleep systems, has been a game-changer for us.’
– Clinician in Salford, Greater Manchester ICB.
‘It’s a very useful tool to connect to colleagues in secondary care to maximise patient care through senior clinician advice, or when used with adaptive clinics and SDEC, by getting the patient to the right place and the right time without unnecessary time in A&E or admission.’
– Clinician in Cardiff and Vale Health Board.
‘As an ambulance technician, I am often at jobs where I believe a patient can be best managed at home, but am unable to discharge on scene. The Consultant Connect call allows me to discuss the patient with a consultant and come up with a plan of care for the patient. It’s a fantastic service and also allows us to directly admit a patient to AMU or discuss patients with other healthcare professionals at hospitals.’
– Clinician at Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS Tayside.
If you have any questions or would like to learn how Enhanced A&G services can support your NHS area, please contact us on 01865 951207 or email info@consultantconnect.org.uk.
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