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 & Guidance over the telephone. Calls are answered by a rota of specialists in under 30 seconds (UK average).
- Used in over 90 healthcare areas covering over 33 million patients.
- 66% of calls avoid hospital visits in Elective Care, 30-40% 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.
- Easy to set-up & use with benefits from day one – no hardware or training required.
- Reduces referrals & admissions for whole-system efficiencies – patients receive the right care first time. Unnecessary, time-consuming, and costly referrals are avoided.
- Enjoy world-class support – technology is useless if not used. Our team handles set-up, communication and on-going engagement with GPs, specialists and other stakeholders.
Why is it so helpful for GPs and their patients?
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.
Primary care clinicians can also earn CPD credits when they use the Consultant Connect App for Advice & Guidance. Click here to find out more.
How it works
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
GP Case Study: Cardiology and Elderly Care
Dr Yama Rasekh is a GP at Vine House Health Centre, in the Herts Valleys CCG area. In this article, Dr Rasekh speaks to us about his experience of using the Consultant Connect service.
GP Case Study: Haematology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology
Dr Cowan has been a GP for 22 years and currently works at the Nap Surgery, in Kings Langley in the Herts Valleys CCG area. We caught up with Dr Cowan to ask her about her experience of using the Consultant Connect service.
GP Case Study: Cardiology
In October 2021, Telephone Advice & Guidance via Consultant Connect was launched in NHS West Essex CCG. Since the launch, over 60% of GP surgeries and more than 90 GPs have used the service.
Paramedic Case Study
Steven Evans works for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. He shares an example of when using Consultant Connect helped avoid A&E for an elderly patient.
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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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