Press Release
Published 3rd June 2020 – Powys Teaching Health Board/ Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys
Read the press release on Powys Teaching Health Board’s news page. We have also replicated the Health Board’s article below.
#KeepPowysSafe – New NHS app will provide more care closer to home for people in Powys
“Not only is this app helping to maintain access to essential services during COVID-19, but it also supports the delivery of our health and care strategy for Powys by taking advantage of digital technology to bring more care closer to home.“Many of our patients will have had the experience of being referred to a hospital specialist for a check up. The rural nature of Powys means that these outpatient appointments may take place in our community hospitals with visiting consultants, or it may require a trip to a neighbouring District General Hospital. Consultant Connect can provide immediate advice and prevent the need for a visit to hospital.“A health professional in Powys can use Consultant Connect to access a specialist opinion quickly. For example, a consultant in diabetes can provide advice to our diabetes specialist nurses, so that they in turn can provide the best advice and treatment to their patients. It saves time for patients and Powys clinicians, and also reduces the need for travel to hospital.”
“I am very pleased we are able to start rolling out the Consultant Connect in NHS Wales. This will help to support primary care to determine the right treatment for their patients. Right now it will save crucial time for health care professionals and reduce the amount of hospital visits needed by patients, at a time when our NHS is facing extra pressure. In the long-term the use of this technology is an important part of our plan for the future of health and social care, A Healthier Wales. Making the most of technology is vital to us building a modern health and social care service, in which care is delivered closer to home.”
“We are already seeing benefits for our patients. Through this app we are able to contact a hospital consultant quickly, normally within a few seconds. Their specialty knowledge, alongside our primary care expertise and knowledge of the patients medical history, helps us to provide the right care and treatment there and then. This helps us to provide our patients with better treatment, more quickly, with reduced travel. This is particularly important given the important restrictions in place to stop the spread of Coronavirus, and it will continue to help us provide care closer to home in the future.”
“This investment from Welsh Government is helping us to deliver our ambitious vision for a healthy, caring Powys. It has been a real team effort involving local primary and community clinicians, NHS Wales Informatics services, hospital specialists from neighbouring health boards, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust and our own support services here in the health board. We look forward to rolling out the service to even more clinicians, so that even more patients can benefit.”
**ENDS**
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For more information, please contact us – T: 01865 261 467, E: hello@consultantconnect.org.uk