Reduce waiting lists and improve patient flow by caring for more patients with the same resources.
The traditional model of outpatient care is no longer fit for purpose
The Government has declared the NHS ‘broken’, with patients unable to access the care they need, waiting lists at record levels, and staff in different organisations unable to work together effectively. The 10 Year Health Plan will lay out the strategy to solve these problems and fulfil the mission to build an NHS fit for the future. For this plan to work, it needs to drive bold measures to fundamentally transform how we deliver care, enabled by technology, rather than simply using technology to digitise traditional models.
One area that needs to transform is outpatients. The traditional model of outpatient care is no longer fit for purpose: it relies on a synchronous care delivery model where care is provided in real time (eg. in person visits, phone calls or video consultations). This leads to resource inefficiencies because it’s not scalable - a clinician can only attend to one patient at one time and high value resources are overused for simple or non-urgent needs. Furthermore, it worsens the patient experience; patients can be frustrated that they’ve incurred costs and given up time to attend appointments that may have not been necessary.
Improve outpatient flow in the NHS
Accurx can improve outpatient flow in the NHS by transforming elective pathways to deliver care asynchronously. With asynchronous models of care, outpatient departments can reduce their waiting lists and improve patient flow by caring for more patients with the same resources.
Trauma and Orthopaedics at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals (SWBH)
One recent example of tackling this issue head on was in a pilot with Trauma and Orthopaedics at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals (SWBH). The aim was to overhaul the traditional fracture clinic to a virtual model of care which would streamline clinic workflows, enhance patient communication, and reduce the number of unnecessary in-person appointments.
Conventional fracture clinics often involve patients visiting in person for consultations. This approach has led to a very fractured service with long waiting times for an appointment and patient frustration. Communication gaps further compounded the problem as patients were waiting and left uncertain about their care plans. In a virtual fracture clinic, patient cases are triaged remotely by a team of specialists without the patient present. This allows for efficient decision-making as decisions can be made in half the time of an in-person appointment. It also ensures patients receive timely and appropriate care while reducing unnecessary in-person appointments.
The results
The numbers speak for themselves. Now the Orthopaedics team can care for more patients on a weekly basis, without investing in any additional clinical resource. Of 925 patients contacted:
- 57% booked to STAC clinic
- 8% booked to HOT clinic
- 35% discharged or referred to physio
This represents a 35% increase in patients cared for with no change in clinical resources. These outcomes highlight not only the efficiency of the virtual model but also the power of precise communication in delivering the right care at the right time.
Key to the success of this model is an intuitive communication platform that bridges the gap between patients and clinicians. Through Accurx, patients now receive real-time updates, clear instructions, and personalised care pathways—all without the need for repeated phone calls or physical visits. Accurx enables teams to ensure that patients are kept informed at every stage of their patient journey:
- Timely updates: Patients are notified once their referral is received by the virtual fracture clinic and what the next steps are, reducing anxiety and uncertainty.
- Personalised care plans: Tailored messages ensure that each patient understands their treatment pathway.
- Accessibility: The platform provides a user-friendly experience, empowering patients to engage with their care seamlessly. It gives patients the option to follow up with questions by SMS or phone.
Accurx has improved patient pathways… These new pathways have now become an integral part of our practice and we would be keen to continue this practice as it helps regulate the patient flow better and in a timely fashion.
Atul Malik, Clinical Director, T&O, SWBH
The success of this virtual fracture clinic initiative demonstrates the potential for digital transformation to revolutionise healthcare. By combining clinical expertise with innovative technology, we can create systems that are efficient, patient-centered, and future-proof. The result? Happier patients, empowered clinicians, and an NHS that’s fit for the future.
Would you like to learn more about how digital transformation can improve elective pathways in your service?