Immediate Telephone Advice & Guidance 

When Consultant Connect first started providing rapid Telephone Advice & Guidance (A&G) to the NHS it was just GPs that used the service to speak to specialists. We are now providing access to a wider range of medics and community healthcare providers such as; Paramedics, Nurses, Pharmacists, Nurse Prescribers, Mental Health Clinicians, and Social Workers. Why? Telephone Advice & Guidance from Consultant Connect solves the difficulty of speaking to the right person when timely advice is really needed – especially if a patient’s needs are complex.

Clinicians use the Consultant Connect App or a unique Dial-in Number to speak to specialist clinicians for pre-referral advice and guidance over the telephone. Calls are answered by a rota of specialists in under 30 seconds (UK average).

 

  • Used in 46 ICB/ HB areas covering over 38 million patients.
  • 67% of calls avoid hospital visits in Elective Care, 55% of calls avoid hospital visits in Urgent Care.
  • Easy to set-up and use with benefits from day one – no hardware or training required. 
  • Reduces referrals and admissions for whole-system efficiencies – patients receive the right care, first time. 
  • Enjoy world-class support – our team handles set-up, communication and on-going engagement with clinicians, specialists and other stakeholders. 

Why do clinicians and patients like it?

Why do commissioners like it? 

Find out how our Mental Health Phone Advice & Guidance service can help support the right mental health referrals at the right time.

How it works

Telephone Advice & Guidance - Consultant Connect

Primary care clinicians can also earn CPD credits when they use the Consultant Connect App for Advice & Guidance. Click to find out more.

Everything you need to know – in a few minutes…

Clinicians explain why immediate phone advice works for them
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

Acute Frailty in Dorset | GP case study

Acute Frailty in Dorset | GP case study

We spoke with Dr Laura Godfrey, a GP in Dorset, to find out how the Acute Frailty line via Consultant Connect benefits her and her patients.

How Advice & Guidance is bridging the gap between physical and mental health in Northamptonshire

How Advice & Guidance is bridging the gap between physical and mental health in Northamptonshire

Enhanced Advice & Guidance provided by Consultant Connect has been connecting clinicians with specialists for rapid advice since 2016 in Northamptonshire ICB via telephone, photo and messaging. We spoke with a clinician at Berrywood Hospital, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to find out how Enhanced Advice & Guidance helps them.

How Consultant Connect is supporting Dermatology referrals in Calderdale

How Consultant Connect is supporting Dermatology referrals in Calderdale

Consultant Connect spoke with Carrie Bottomley, Apprentice Healthcare Assistant and General Practitioner’s Assistant at Bankfield Surgery, to find out how PhotoSAF fits into her everyday role and benefits her patients.

GP case study: Enhanced Advice & Guidance in Oldham

GP case study: Enhanced Advice & Guidance in Oldham

In November 2022, Enhanced Advice & Guidance provided by Consultant Connect was launched in Greater Manchester ICB. We spoke with Dr Fathema Johura, a GP in Oldham, to find out how the service benefits her and her patients.

- Consultant Connect

Contact us

For more information about how we work with commissioners, hospitals and mental health trusts to improve patient care, please get in touch.

- Consultant Connect

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.

- Consultant Connect

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.