RSS Central Booking
The Referral Support Service (RSS) provides clinical review for a range of specialities, such as MSK, ENT, Dermatology, COPD and General Surgery. When a GP refers a patient to one of these services, the referral is reviewed by a GP with a Specialist Interest (GPSI) in that clinical speciality. A decision is made as to the most appropriate clinical setting to meet the needs of the patient. The administrative team then contacts the patient to offer them a choice of location.
In 2022/23 the RSS Team triaged and processed 56,212 referrals. Where the patients are seen will vary from service to service. On average 40% of all referrals are now seen outside of an acute trust. However this ranges from 20-70% depending upon clinical service.
The RSS Team has been integral to UHL’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. 8,000 patients were transferred out from UHL/community hospitals and were able to receive their care sooner and closer to home, thanks to PCL services. Our team made contact with all of these patients, providing reassurance that their needs had not been over-looked and offering local options for care.
RSS Transformation Project
Currently the RSS Team has managed the transfer of patients from UHL waitlists for Orthopaedics, Dermatology, General Surgery, Ultrasound Guided Injections, Urology and Gynaecology. In 2022/23 we were able to establish primary care acne services, delivered by GPSI. This means that patients no longer need to go into acute trust to be treated. This is more convenient for the patient and reduces waiting times for the trust.
The RSS Team has also established a Continuation In Care pathway for Paediatric patients who are in Secondary Care, transitioning to Adult Care in the Community.
The team has taken on the additional responsibility of providing a contact centre for 3 PCN’s Enhanced Access for 6 days per week. The RSS Team also provides a remote reception service for 3 MSK Hubs and has also taken on the role of the Covid Contact centre.
Respiratory Triage
Triaging through the LLR Referral Support Service, in September 2022, a 6 month trial was undertaken for the COPD pathway. Great success was achieved and this particular triage service is now a permanent feature. This is the first example of PCL using a mixed model of triaging, consisting of three respiratory consultants and one respiratory GP with Specialist Interests. The model works extremely well in that it supports continuous learning, demonstrates system integrated working as well as patients being referred to the right, most appropriate clinic in the very first instance. Prior to this triage service being set up, all COPD patients were sent into General Respiratory clinics and then referred on to the most appropriate clinic.