Efficient One-Stop-Clinics Clear High Volumes of Varicose Vein Patients

0

Vascular outpatients cleared

0x

concurrent clinics per site per weekend

0week

week reduction in waiting time

0%

More patients cleared than planned

The extra capacity provided has been fantastic, the teams have worked collaboratively to help create an effective and efficient service

Lead Vascular Sonographer

Background

Following a merger, Medacs insourcing teams were brought in to support two separate NHS trusts with the delivery of one-stop vascular outpatient clinics for specialist varicose vein pathways. Additional weekend activity was needed to avoid diagnostic bottlenecks, reduce waiting times to below 40 weeks and clear growing numbers of long-waiting patients.

The Approach

Medacs rapidly built a new managed outpatient service, recruiting six additional vascular sonographers, five consultants and specialist nursing staff to work alongside experienced members of the existing vascular departments.
This new ‘allied’ workforce delivered four concurrent one-stop-clinics at each trust every weekend, combining consultations, duplex ultrasound diagnostic imaging and treatment planning in a single visit. This efficient approach shortened and streamlined the normal patient pathway, moving vascular patients much faster from diagnosis to treatment.

Results

In total, across both sites Medacs managed the delivery of 123 one-stop clinics, clearing over 3200 varicose vein patients. Feedback from all the consultants involved was extremely positive, with many keen to replicate the model for their own in-week clinics. Patients have also provided excellent feedback, appreciating the convenience of a single appointment, with consultations and diagnostics done simultaneously. In total, 40% more patients than planned were cleared, and Medacs doubled the total number of clinics running every month, significantly increasing activity and productivity. The vascular waiting list across both trusts is now significantly reduced, with no patients waiting longer than 11 weeks for an appointment.

Client

NHS Trust Group - North London

Service

Clinical Insourcing - One-Stop Outpatient Service - Varicose Vein Pathways

Staffing Type

Consultants, Sonographers, Specialist Nurses

Framework

NHS Shared Business Services