ENT triage pilot: 30% of long waiters benefit from management plan

Published: 9th January 2025
We've helped 7 NHS Trusts clear their ENT waiting list backlogs by triaging more than 6,000 ENT referrals. The project enabled 30% of patients to be returned to clinicians in Primary Care with written Advice & Guidance.
Reducing Waiting Lists Efficiently Consultant Connect

We recently revealed the impressive impact of a ‘front door’ approach to triaging over 1,000 referrals across ENT and Urology for a Trust in the North of England.

Following the success of our triage work, we have now triaged more than 6,000 ENT referrals across 7 NHS Trusts.

The project covered more than 6,000 patients on the ENT waiting list, and 30% of patients were removed from the waiting list, freeing up slots for those who need them.

A full breakdown of the outcomes is as follows:

  • 29% of referrals were returned to clinicians in Primary Care with written Advice & Guidance
  • 1% of referrals were booked into diagnostics only
  • 43% of referrals were booked directly into a routine outpatient appointment, without additional diagnostics needed 
  • 20% of referrals were booked directly into a routine outpatient appointment with additional diagnostics carried out beforehand
  • 5% of referrals were accepted for an urgent appointment
  • 1% of referrals were upgraded to urgent and prioritised for a face-to-face consultation or downgraded to a routine appointment

 

The triage work resulted in a clinically validated and prioritised waiting list, ensuring that most urgent referrals are seen first at the right service and that those referrals that can be managed in primary care are returned to Primary Care with extensive Advice & Guidance.

If you have any questions or would like more information about how our Referral Triage service could support your area, call us on 01865 261 467 or email hello@consultantconnect.org.uk

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