The Challenge:
To set up a community-based dermatology service to tackle hospital wait times and offer patient choice. Formal approval to proceed was received in Nov/Dec 2024 with aim to be operational from April 2025
Our Approach:
- We proposed a consultant-led triage model with treatment provided by specially trained GPs. We set up a project team led by IPC GP director with specialist dermatology expertise.
- Drawing on experience from our other system-wide services, we rapidly established operational requirements, including confirming and recruiting to clinical and admin roles, interviewing for a Clinical Lead, formalising sites, and establishing the triage process with Consultant Connect.
- We established processes that enabled our clinicians to write-up consultations directly into patient notes, offering seamless care and keeping local GPs informed.
- We provided all GP practices with a comprehensive information pack and patient resources ahead of the launch, and ran a short webinar on launch day to explain the service and walk practices through the referral process.
Outcomes:
- The service launched on time with 25 referrals received in the first three days and some patients referred, seen treated and discharged within ten days.
- Referrals are coming through from across the system, including some from secondary care, indicating widespread awareness. 199 referrals were received in the first six weeks, with the number of clinic sites increased to nine.
- Wait times are much shorter than hospital referrals, with the aim of all patients being seen within 52 days of referral and triage taking place within 2 days.
