Digital transformation is happening across Newcastle Hospitals, with an initiative to tackle waiting lists, a virtual trial for patients with irritable bowel syndrome, and a digital pathway for the audiology team.
The trust’s strategy, taking them through to 2024, states that they are “committed to becoming a fully digitally enabled trust, delivering exceptional care efficiently, through the use of world class digital technology and information.” They are classed as a Global Digital Exemplar, recognised internationally for the improvements in care delivered through digital transformation.
Here we take a look at three of Newcastle Hospitals’ current digital schemes.
For the audiology team, a recently introduced digital pathway is speeding up the process of referral and supporting staff in assessing the level of support needed. New patients referred to the clinic are asked to complete an electronic questionnaire, allowing the team to triage them appropriately based on an assessment score.
The process was developed in partnership with Health Call and implemented in 2021, with Hearing Therapy Clinical Lead Claire Seago saying that it “helps us make better use of our clinical time and we are now getting a lot fewer DNAs (did not attends). Most patients have been really positive about the digital pathway as it has helped really speed up the process and get important information to them, to help them manage their condition better.”
Elsewhere, a virtual trial led by Newcastle researchers tested use of new treatment Enterosgel for patients with IBS-D.
During the pandemic, the trial was transformed into one of the first fully virtual UK clinical trials with the help of study sponsor Enteromed. The virtual trial allowed people from across the country to take part in the study, resulting in 67 percent faster recruitment the researchers said.
440 people participated in the trial across 28 sites in England before it switched over to a virtual format. The results showed that Enterosgel is an effective treatment and can improve quality of life for IBS-D patients.
Chief Investigator Professor Yan Yiannakou, Clinical Director of the NIHR Patient Recruitment Centre at Newcastle, said that the trial is “a pathfinder for delivery of clinical trials and may help start a revolution in the way we run clinical trials post COVID-19. Virtual trial capability empowers patients; it allows any patient anywhere in the country to access the trial. It also means zero hospital visits which makes participation safer and easier for all.”
Digitisation is also playing a role in helping to reduce the number of missed outpatient appointments at Newcastle Hospitals, with an in-house team working with the endoscopy department to remind patients about their appointments and offering rescheduled visits for those who can no longer attend. The project is part of the Coordination and Response Centre, formerly part of the Integrated COVID Hub North East, supporting the NHS and local authorities to share resources and learning from the pandemic.
It works by sending a two-way reminder text to patients a week before the appointment, with a follow up sent 24 hours later. If there is no reply, a call is made. Approximately 6672 patients have been contacted over five months, saving around 434 missed appointments and reducing the DNA rate to roughly 2.5 percent.
“We are delighted with the results of the project, which is supporting the department to make the best use of time and resource to care for more patients, while improve patients’ experience at the start of their journey,” said Daryl Perry, Director of the Coordination and Response Centre said: “We know from patient feedback that the service has been well received as people have said they appreciate the reminder and value speaking to someone.
“There is scope to roll this out to other services and clinics and more widely to support the NHS across the region with Covid recovery.”
