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.
Find out how our Mental Health Phone Advice & Guidance service can help support the right mental health referrals at the right time.
Why is it so helpful for GPs and their patients?
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
Consultant Connect in NHSE handbooks
Did you know Consultant Connect has been included in the NHS England’s Elective Care Transformation Team handbooks for gastro, dermatology and diabetes handbooks? Proof that advice & guidance works!
Phone Advice & Guidance Case Studies
GP case study: Teledermatology via the Consultant Connect App
In this video, GPs in Solihull explain how using Photo Advice & Guidance through the Consultant Connect App allows them to share images directly with a community GPER.
GP case study: Teledermatology
Dr Catherine Napper, a locum GP in Bath and North East Somerset CCG, explains why she thinks using the PhotoSAF feature on the Consultant Connect App is beneficial to both her patients and herself.
GP case study: Acute Medicine
A GP in NHS Tayside Health Board avoids admission for patient with possible pneumonia of influenza by using Phone A&G to speak to a specialist at Ninewells Hospital.
GP case study: Teledermatology
Dr Clive Anggiansah, a GP in Bexley CCG, discusses how he uses Safe Clinical Photography (PhotoSAF) via the Consultant Connect App to benefit his patients.
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.
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