Virtual Gastroenterology Service Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Groups (BHR CCG's)

Descriptions

The specific aims of the service are as follows; •Provide clinical triage that will act as a peer review and support process to GPs •Improve the patient experience by ensuring they are managed in the right place and at the right time. •Reduce costs in unnecessary outpatient attendance. •Improve the quality and appropriateness of GP referrals to secondary care •Develop greater opportunities for increased access of formal specialist care for patients. •Ensure cost-effectiveness in the management of referrals. •As part of the aim above, the service needs to ensure there is no added cost to the system. I.e. further outpatient cost for any tests arranged by the provider due to direct pathways not being in place. The key objectives are to: •Reduce the number of 'clinically avoidable' referrals into secondary care through primary care triaging •Investigating and virtually managing patients where clinically appropriate. •Discharge patients back to the GP where appropriate with management plan/ prescribed medication •Provide audit results of the referrals made by GPs which will aid the CCG/GP's in focusing on areas that require further training. This may included oTrends in the advice sought by GPs regarding the clinical management of patients. oThe number of referrals which were advised to be re-directed from secondary care to primary care management. oThe number of referrals with missing and inadequate referral information.