Update June 2023

Don’t forget you have access to the 2WW Paediatrics – Suspected Childhood Cancer Pathway via Consultant Connect. 

This pathway is available Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm and is answered by the Paediatric team at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. With an average connection time of 27 seconds, you can be connected for specialist advice rapidly.

The quickest and easiest way to access the pathway is via the free Consultant Connect App, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

The pathway comprises three simple steps:

1. Please consult the CCLG guidelines. Please access this pathway if your patient is showing amber or red symptoms only.
2. Place a call to the Paediatrics – Suspected Childhood Cancer Pathway via Consultant Connect.
3. If you’re unable to get through via the Paediatrics Telephone line, please use the Paediatrics Messaging line for advice.
4. If the referral is accepted by the specialist, follow up with a message via the app or platform to book an appointment.

For more information about this pathway, please see the Paediatric 2WW User Guide, or if you have any questions, please contact your Account Manager at lowri.howard@consultantconnect.org.uk.

Update June 2023

For South Warwickshire GPs – Advice and Guidance using the Consultant Connect App

We are delighted to announce that from Monday 5^th June, you will have access to Dermatology Messaging Advice & Guidance (A&G) via Consultant Connect.

You will be able to send IG-secure photos and messages for A&G to the Dermatology team at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWUFT).

Please note that this line will replace eRS A&G for rashes and non-cancerous lesions, so from 5^th June, eRS A&G will be switched off for these conditions.

The quickest and easiest way to access Dermatology Messaging A&G is via the free Consultant Connect App, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

On the app, the PhotoSAF feature will enable you to take, save and share IG-compliant patient images and include any notes.

You will then be able to either save the images and notes or share them with the Dermatology team. If you save them without sharing, you will still have the option to convert them into an A&G request at a later date, if needed.

All images taken via the service are saved in a secure cloud and not on the user’s device, so can be used on personal mobile phones.

For any information relating to Consultant Connect, please see the Dermatology Messaging Guide. If you have any questions regarding your Consultant Connect service, please email your Account Manager, lowri.howard@consultantconnect.org.uk.

Dermatology Messaging A&G activity will be reviewed continually, and if there are any concerns, please liaise directly with Carolyn Dando, Dermatology Manager at SWUFT (Carolyn.Dando@swft.nhs.uk).

Update May 2023

For South Warwickshire GPs – Advice and Guidance using the Consultant Connect App

We are really pleased to inform you that from Monday 5th June SWUFT Dermatologists will be providing Advice and Guidance using the Consultant Connect App. We believe that using the Consultant Connect App will improve the process and allow us to respond in a more timely manner, which will lead to better outcomes for patients.

As a result, ERS will be switched off and all advice and guidance will be provided via the Consultant Connect App from 5^th June.

Please find attached a letter outlining the reasoning behind this change. Should you have any concerns then please raise them directly with Carolyn Dando, Dermatology Manager via Carolyn.Dando@swft.nhs.uk.

Update April 2023: Consultant Connect  Ophthalmology Advice & Guidance

We regret to inform you that the ophthalmology team at University Hospitals of Coventry & Warwickshire will no longer be able to answer Telephone Advice & Guidance (A&G) queries via Consultant Connect.

On behalf of the ophthalmology team, they have asked us to advise that they can still be contacted through the existing e-referral pathway, or via the clinician line in urgent cases.

Consultant Connect & Urgent Connect Pre-referral Advice & Guidance Telephone Service

See also Advice & Guidance GP Gateway page for fully operational links

Consultant Connect EMIS and SystmOne Patient record integration – FAQs for GPs January 2022

South Warwickshire (SWFT Warwick Hospital) Consultant Connect Gynaecology Pre Referral Advice & Guidance November 2022

As of Monday 7th November 2022, you will have access to the Gynaecology Pre-Referral Advice line via Consultant Connect. The service will be running for a 4-week trial period as a Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) and should be used for timely pre-referral advice and clinical discussions.

Please note: practice managers or secretaries will be requested to send an electronic referral only after a clinical discussion has taken place.

This telephone advice line is available Monday – Friday, 08:30 – 18:00, and is answered by consultants and senior registrars. Specialists on the line will aim to answer calls within 40 seconds.

Consultant Connect Radiology Advice & Guidance

Consultant Connect have launched Messaging to local Radiology consultants via the Consultant Connect App and desktop portal.

Please use this service for advice regarding:

• Suitability of imaging modality
• Queries regarding requesting
• Advice on issued reports

Please do not submit queries chasing scan results or bookings – please contact the radiology department through the usual channels.

Consultant Connect Dermatology October 2022

From Monday 17th October General Dermatology Messaging Advice and Guidance (A&G) is now provided LOCALLY by dermatologists at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) via Consultant Connect.

Additionally, Consultant Connect now integrates with your patient record, meaning messages you send to specialists will be automatically added to the patient’s record (provided a valid NHS number is input and an outcome is left).

Previously, Dermatology A&G was provided by the UHCW Dermatology team via the ERS pathway and via Consultant Connect’s National Consultant Network, but will now ONLY be provided locally via Consultant Connect.

To help you make the most of Consultant Connect, including Messaging A&G, we would like to invite you to a drop-in session via Teams.

Accessing the service

The quickest and easiest way to access Advice & Guidance is via the free Consultant Connect App, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. To begin an Advice & Guidance message, simply tap on the message icon and follow the steps.

Can’t access the app? Don’t worry; you also have access to Messaging Advice & Guidance via the web-based Consultant Connect Dashboard. This service allows you to fill in specialty proformas on any device so that you can obtain quick and reliable advice.

For more information on how to use Messaging A&G, please see the Dermatology User Guide.

Consultant Connect Local Heart Failure Nurses Advice & Guidance March 2022

We are pleased to let you know that you now have access to Advice & Guidance from local Heart Failure Specialist Nurses via Consultant Connect. This is available via the Messaging option on the App or desktop, where you can complete a short form to send to HF Specialist Nurses.

Coventry and Rugby GPs can utilise this service for advice regarding heart failure patients with a confirmed diagnosis of heart failure via Transthoracic Echo, Cardiac MRI or MUGA scan. 

New Consultant Connect Haematology Advice & Guidance Pilot October 2021

NEW HAEMATOLOGY A&G PILOT: LAUNCHING THURSDAY 7^th October 2021

We are pleased to let you know that Haematology Advice & Guidance is now provided locally by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, via Consultant Connect. This is a pilot – whereby usage, feedback and impact will be reviewed ahead of continuation.

This is now your primary route to request Advice & Guidance for all non-urgent queries, which aim be responded to within 48 – 72 hours. This service will replace the Telephone Advice & Guidance route previously provided by our National Consultant Network.

If there is an emergency then you will have the option to call “Urgent Haematology Pathway” between 9am – 5pm Mon- Fri, via Consultant Connect, where you will be connected with the on-call Specialist Trainee Doctor. This should be reserved only for the most urgent situations. Please note: eRS will still be checked and responded to – but where possible A&G should be sought via Consultant Connect.

Haematology Advice & Guidance will be available via Messaging*.

*Please note: This is primarily a Messaging service, but Photos can be attached, to share photos of rashes that could be important (drug reactions) and to snapshot bloods if the results are from an out-of-area source and not available on CRRS. Adding a photo is not a requirement.

Accessing Haematology Advice & Guidance and Urgent Pathway

Urgent Pathway – Telephone

• The easiest way to access the Urgent Haematology Pathway is via the Consultant Connect App – download from the App Store or Google Play. You can make a call at the touch of a button, as specialty access numbers are pre-programmed in.
• If you do not have access to the app, you can also call via your Dial-In Number – if you do not remember your Dial-In Number, please contact Joanne (details below).

Messaging

• Messaging Advice & Guidance can be accessed via the Consultant Connect App and via the Consultant Connect platform.
• For more information, please read our ‘IG Secure Messaging’ guide.

Attaching Photos

• Photo-Messaging Advice & Guidance can be accessed via the Consultant Connect App and via the Consultant Connect platform.

New Consultant Connect Paediatrics Advice & Guidance Pilot August 2021

New Consultant Connect Cardiology Advice & Guidance Pilot June 2021

Link to Cardiology ECG & Echo Report Advice & Guidance Guide – Click here

Consultant Connect TeleDermatology

Download the free Consultant Connect App from the App Store or Google Play.

Select PhotoSAF (camera icon) at the bottom of the screen. All images will also be sent to your NHS email address along with a PDF summary.

To find out more about how to use TeleDermatology, click on the image below

When performing remote consultations you can now use the IG secure Consultant Connect Platform to upload photos from patients for specialist opinion:

Click here for a step-by-step guide on how the service works.

To help patients to take the best photos, please feel free to share this guide with them.

Teledermatology Update May 2021

Click on image below for full document with operative links

Earn CPD Points when you use the Consultant Connect App

Clinicians in Coventry and Rugby CCG and Warwickshire North CCG can now earn CPD points by using the Consultant Connect App for Advice & Guidance.

Download the free Consultant Connect App from the App Store or Google Play.

How to start earning CPD points

• Simply use the app to make a Telephone Advice & Guidance call or request written advice using the ‘Messages’ function.
• Call duration must be over 1.5 minutes.
• You must leave an outcome e.g. Referral Avoided. A pop-up message will remind you to leave the outcome when you end your call.
• Your call or message must be for specialist Advice & Guidance (e.g. not to confirm an admission or call to a switchboard).
• 6 calls/messages that meet the above criteria will earn you 1 CPD point.

Accessing your CPD points statement

• Log into the secure desktop platform using the same login details you use for the Consultant Connect App.
• Click on ‘Profile’ then ‘Download CPD points statement’ to download and view.

More information

• Earning CPD points via the Consultant Connect App Guide
• Primary Care Start-Up Guide – to help you get started with using the Consultant Connect App

If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact:

Joanne Hardway Email: joanne.hardway@consultantconnect.org.uk Tel: 01865 261467

Consultant Connect Updates

April 2021 Follow link