Addressing waiting lists and backlogs with teledermatology in Mid and South Essex NHS Trust
Mid and South Essex NHS Trust faced a significant backlog of two-week wait (2WW) dermatology referrals, with patients waiting over a month on average for initial appointments. Partnering with Xyla, part of Acacium Group, enabled the region to secure quick diagnosis and treatment through an innovative teledermatology referral service.
Key Statistics
- 7,513 patients triaged in 6 months
- 97.7% patient satisfaction rate
- 55% of patients diverted from secondary care
The Challenge
Mid and South Essex NHS Trust struggled with an overwhelming backlog of dermatology 2WW referrals, failing to meet the target timeframes for suspected cancer cases. Patients were experiencing extended wait times, averaging over a month for initial appointments, putting their health and wellbeing at risk. With limited capacity to manage these referrals, a sustainable and efficient solution was urgently needed.
Why Acacium Group?
The decision to work with Xyla, part of Acacium Group, was driven by proven success in managing scalable healthcare services. Xyla’s track record in handling large volumes of patient referrals and innovative teledermatology approach made it the ideal partner for Mid and South Essex NHS Trust.
The Solution
Launched in October 2023, 62 out of 152 GP practices within the Integrated Care Board (ICB) initially referred patients to the teledermatology service. Xyla collaborated directly with Mid and South Essex NHS Trust to streamline the process, setting them up as a referrer on the clinical communication platform. This allowed for direct referrals and efficient booking into medical photography clinics.
Referrals without images were directed to medical photography, while those with images were triaged by consultant dermatologists. Post-triage, patients were either discharged to their GP with a management plan or referred to the appropriate care provider based on the consultant’s assessment. Xyla operated 15 medical photography clinics weekly, ensuring maximum capacity and rapid appointment scheduling.
Impact
Accelerated triage process
The efficiency of the teledermatology service saw 75% of patients triaged within 48 hours. This rapid triage process significantly reduced patient wait times, ensuring that those requiring urgent care were identified and managed promptly. Patient outcomes improved and anxiety associated with prolonged waiting periods was reduced.
Expanded service capacity
By operating an average of 15 medical photography clinics per week across the Mid Essex area, Xyla provided the capacity to see up to 450 patients weekly. This expansion in service allowed 7,366 patients to be served to date, with all patients booked into their appointments within 48 hours, ensuring prompt and efficient care.
Decreased load on secondary care
The partnership successfully redirected 55% of patients away from secondary care back to GP and community services. This eased the burden on secondary care facilities and optimised resource utilisation, allowing secondary care providers to focus on more complex cases while community services handled manageable conditions.
Increased patient satisfaction
The service achieved high patient satisfaction, with 97.7% of patients rating their overall experience as very good or good. Additionally, 95.2% of patients indicated they would recommend the service. These high satisfaction rates reflect the quality of care provided and the efficiency of the service, fostering trust and confidence among patients.
“Last summer with insourcing we booked around 4-5 weeks at our busiest for 2WW. Since working with Xyla, current bookings are made within 8 days once received in secondary care for the USC Skin service. At our worst, we booked at around 70 weeks, now reduced to an average of 56 weeks. For 2WW, the average is 8 days, and routine appointments are booked within 56 weeks.“
Mid and South Essex NHS Trust
Teledermatology supporting quicker diagnosis and treatment
If you need to address dermatology backlogs by streamlining your referral process, we can provide a proven dermatology service that enhances patient care and operational efficiency. Contact: info@acaciumgroup.com or call +44 (0)20 7440 0632
