‘[Using Consultant Connect] saves the NHS lots of money and time for patients who would otherwise wait two or three months for an appointment.’
Across the UK, many NHS areas take advantage of our National Consultant Network (NCN) to support locally challenged or unavailable specialties. The NCN comprises out-of-area NHS consultants who support primary care clinicians by providing Advice & Guidance (A&G) via telephone and/or messaging, helping patients receive the right care in the right place the first time. To find out how having access to the NCN benefits clinicians and patients in their respective areas, we spoke with DM*, a Clinical Pharmacist in Diabetes in Birmingham and Solihull ICB. We also spoke with a physician associate in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB. In both NHS areas, A&G sought via Consultant Connect is provided only by consultants on the NCN, freeing up already-busy local specialists.
How does access to the NCN via Consultant Connect support you in your role?
‘I have been caring for diabetic patients within the GP surgery for eight years. I see all ranges of patients, including those who are newly diagnosed with diabetes, patients with complications, and other comorbidities relating to diabetes, such as hypertension, kidney problems, and eye and foot issues. Quite often, with diabetic complications, the patient requires specialist input, but this does not need to be delivered in a secondary care setting. Previously, we would have had to refer patients because we didn’t have access to specialist advice, but Consultant Connect allows us to treat them in primary care when clinically appropriate. This saves the NHS lots of money and time for patients who would otherwise wait two or three months for an appointment. Some primary care centres have dedicated specialist nurses and pharmacists for diabetes, but we don’t have the resources to deal with all diabetes-related complications, so Consultant Connect helps me reduce this level of inequality in patient care. This service really is one of the best in the NHS, and it enables patients to get the right care quicker through me. It’s not practical for every single type 2 diabetes patient to be referred to secondary care. Because of the sheer volume of patients with this condition, there aren’t enough appointments for everyone, so Consultant Connect helps us to be economical with referrals and only send in the patients who really need to see a specialist in a seconday care setting.’
– DM, Clinical Pharmacist in Diabetes.
‘I’ll see anything and everything that comes through the door, as a GP would. Different organisations set different scopes of what a physician associate should deal with. For example, I trained and worked in London for almost five years before moving to Staffordshire. When I was newly qualified, I didn’t see any children under five years old, and then as I grew my confidence and experience, and with the surgery’s guidelines, I took on more complex patient needs, such as HRT and blood results. Within my role, I can ask salaried and partner GPs for advice if I’m not sure on the best next steps for my patient, but when they don’t know the answer, they’ll always advise me to use the Consultant Connect service to seek support from a specialist. Our surgery loves the service.’
– physician associate.
What has your experience been speaking with the NCN consultants? Does this have a positive effect on your patients?
‘The consultants are kind and knowledgeable, taking the time to give clear directions and explain the information provided. As a physician associate, in the current climate, there is some negative speculation towards us and our future within the NHS. I am fortunate in that I’ve never encountered any obstructive views from advice providers, and I feel it is so important to praise fellow clinicians to show that I am here to help alongside them, will always seek advice from those above me and ultimately respect a doctor no matter what grade or area of medicine they work within.
‘There is always a seed of doubt that says, “What if they won’t give me advice because I’m not a GP?” but I’ve found the NCN consultants very professional, respectful and thorough, allowing me to devise treatment plans swiftly for my patients. Patients are so grateful, and having their case reviewed by a specialist gives them peace of mind, so I am very appreciative of the NCN and Consultant Connect.’
– physician associate.
‘Diabetes is a metabolic problem and affects patients physically and mentally. Quite often, it’s hard for them to understand why they’re taking a specific medication. When a patient’s primary clinician seeks a more specialised opinion, they have a better level of satisfaction relating to their care, so using Consultant Connect positively impacts patients accepting clinical decisions.
‘The NCN consultants are all approachable, friendly and helpful, with good advice. Recently, I saw a patient with type 2 diabetes who needed a GLP1 during Ramadan. Because he was fasting, my initial thought was to delay it until after Ramadan, but I decided to speak with a diabetologist on the NCN to confirm my plan. The consultant advised that introducing the GLP1 would help with fasting because it would reduce the patient’s hunger and increase feelings of fullness. This was invaluable advice, and when I relayed this to the patient, he was very satisfied with the decision.
‘The advice I’ve had from consultant diabetologists on the NCN helps me in so many ways, not only to avoid referrals, but also for my personal development and knowledge in the specialty. In the past, clinicians at my practice would call the NCN for advice for the large majority of our diabetes patients, but with time and their advice, there are certain conditions that come up regularly that we can now treat and manage independently in our GP practice.’
– DM.
* Clinician was asked to be identified by their initials only
If you have any questions, please get in touch on 01865 261467 or at hello@consultantconnect.org.uk.
