Staffing Advice & Guidance lines a challenge? Find out about our National Network.
Phone Advice & Guidance
The UK’s only immediate Advice & Guidance service
Easy to set-up & use with benefits from day one – no hardware or training required.
Because technology is useless if not used, our team handles set-up, communication and on-going engagement with GPs and specialists.
Used in Elective, Urgent, and Mental Health.
Reducing referrals & admissions for whole-system efficiencies – patients receive the right care first time. Unnecessary, time-consuming, and costly referrals are avoided.
Staffing Advice & Guidance lines a challenge? Find out about our National Network.
Phone Advice & Guidance
The UK’s only immediate Advice & Guidance service
- Easy to set-up & use with benefits from day one – no hardware or training required.
- Because technology is useless if not used, our team handles set-up, communication and on-going engagement with GPs and specialists.
- Used in Elective, Urgent, and Mental Health.
- Reducing referrals & admissions for whole-system efficiencies – patients receive the right care first time. Unnecessary, time-consuming, and costly referrals are avoided.
Staffing Advice & Guidance lines a challenge? Find out about our National Network.
How it works
GP has a patient that may need a referral
GP calls the Phone Advice & Guidance service using their unique local Dial-In Number or the Consultant Connect App. They choose a specialty (eg “press 1 for Cardiology”), and input the patient’s NHS number.
The call loops through a “rota” of available local specialists and the GP is put through to the first available specialist.
The UK average time it takes to connect a GP to a specialist this way is only 35 seconds. This means that GPs can use the service while the patient is still with them.
1
GP has a patient that may need a referral
- GP calls the Phone Advice & Guidance service using their unique local Dial-In Number or the Consultant Connect App.
- They choose a specialty (eg “press 1 for Cardiology”), and input the patient’s NHS number.
- The call loops through a “rota” of available local specialists and the GP is put through to the first available.
The UK average time it takes to connect a GP to a specialist this way is only 35 seconds. This means that GPs can use the service while the patient is still with them.
Clinical conversation with specialist
The GP speaks with the specialist, who offers immediate Advice & Guidance, and helps decide the appropriate course of action for the patient. Conversations are usually around 3-4 minutes in duration.
This means that:
- Patients get quicker specialist advice and only attend hospital if it’s necessary.
- Specialists and hospitals see a reduction in unnecessary referrals, reducing workload.
2
Clinical conversation with specialist
The GP speaks with the specialist, who offers immediate Advice & Guidance, and helps decide the appropriate course of action for the patient. Conversations are usually around 3-4 minutes in duration.
This means that:
- Patients get quicker specialist advice and only attend hospital if it’s necessary.
- Specialists and hospitals see a reduction in unnecessary referrals, reducing workload.
Outcome is recorded
At the end of the call, the GP and the specialist record the call outcome (for example “referral made” or “referral avoided”).
Commissioners and hospitals can use the data our service collects to monitor Advice & Guidance, identify training needs and improve local service provision.
A recording of the call is safely stored as a fully encrypted audio file accessible to the relevant GP practice and hospital team.
3
Outcome is recorded
At the end of the call:
- The GP and the specialist record the call outcome (for example “referral made” or “referral avoided”).
- Commissioners and hospitals can use the data our service collects to monitor Advice & Guidance, identify training needs and improve local service provision.
- A recording of the call is safely stored as a fully encrypted audio file accessible to the relevant GP practice and hospital team.
Everything you need to know – in a few minutes
Specialists explain how immediate phone advice helps patients
Clinicians explain why immediate phone advice works for them
Phone A&G in action – Elective Care
Phone A&G in action – Urgent Care
Phone Advice & Guidance Case Studies
GP case study: Gastroenterology
A GP in Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board avoids an acute admission for a patient with inflammatory bowel disease by using Phone A&G to speak to a gastroenterologist from his local hospital.
GP case study: Dermatology
A GP in Southwark CCG uses Photo Advice & Guidance to get immediate A&G from the Dermatology Team at her local trust for a child with a body rash and a history of eczema.
GP case study: Paediatrics
A GP in Milton Keynes CCG prevents an emergency situation for an ill baby by using Phone A&G from her local trust, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
GP case study: Gynaecology
A GP in South Warwickshire CCG used Phone Advice & Guidance to get A&G from South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, and gets great results for a gynae patient.
In numbers
Used by over 60 CCG/Health Board areas
Used by over 50 Hospitals
£10 million NHS savings to date
Covering more than 19 million patients
Used by over 60 CCG/Health Board areas
Used by over 50 Hospitals
£10 million NHS savings to date
Covering more than 19 million patients
What our customers say:
Contact us
For more information about how we work with commissioners, hospitals & mental health trusts to improve patient care, please get in touch.
Join a webinar
Listen to health experts from the comfort of your desk as we bring the experts to you in our series of online webinars.
Join our mailing list
Join our mailing list and we'll keep you informed of our latest blogs, project news, and upcoming webinar dates and topics.
Contact us
You can view our Terms & Conditions here.
Most Read Articles
Using out-of-area consultants to support Advice & Guidance
One of the biggest challenges for hospitals delivering an Advice & Guidance service is staffing it. Whether the requests come in from GPs by phone or in writing, most clinicians are expected to respond whilst also doing their day job. This can mean using...
read moreConsultant Connect wins the Barclays Award for Innovation 2018
Consultant Connect wins the Barclays Award for Innovation at The Oxford Trust Enterprise Awards 2018. The Barclays Award for Innovation, is part of the Oxford Trust Enterprise Awards. It is given to a company whose innovation is having a major impact on the industry...
read moreHSJ Article – Tackling the Four-Hour A&E Target
Tackling the Four-Hour A&E Target with a whole system approach A feature created by HSJ in co-operation with Luton & Dunstable University Hospital Written by Claire Read, HSJ Reliably meeting the four hour A&E target – under which 95 per cent of patients...
read moreConsultant Connect – all the data from day one
The first Consultant Connect project launched on 29 June 2015 in North East Essex. Shortly after 9am, the first call was made to Diabetes & Endocrinology and answered by Dr Charles Bodmer, a consultant at Colchester Hospital. After a conversation lasting just over...
read moreWorking with the #1 Trust for A&E
When the BBC published the performance of 133 Trusts in October, Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Trust was ranked first for A&E. 98.6% of patients attending A&E at Luton and Dunstable were treated within 4 hours, compared with an average of 90.1%...
read moreWho Pays For Advice & Guidance?
In England, the most common question we get asked after "how much does it cost?" is "who normally pays for it?". This is a good question. Telephone Advice & Guidance benefits the entire healthcare system: Trusts can manage demand more effectively, keeping waiting...
read moreNever miss a Blog post
Enter your email address to receive notifications of our latest articles
Let's Talk
01865 261 467
Find Us
Consultant Connect Ltd
One St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DE
Company registered in England & Wales.
Company number 09488206
Press Contact
hello@consultantconnect.org.uk
01865 261 467
Find Out More
Copyright © Consultant Connect Ltd | Site by Herd