Isle of Wight NHS Trust Successfully Reduces Waiting Lists with Healthcare Communications Solution
Isle of Wight NHS Trust has announced a significant 12% reduction in their waiting lists following the successful implementation of Healthcare Communications’ Waiting List Validation. By utilizing SMS notifications and digital forms, the trust was able to achieve a remarkable 70% response rate, resulting in 5,312 patient responses across inpatient and outpatient departments. This process led to the removal of 12% of patients from waiting lists, with a total of 656 patients indicating that treatment was no longer required.
Working closely with Healthcare Communications, the trust ensured the correct terminology and templates were in place during a six-week planning and testing period, followed by two weeks of patient contact. Patients who had been on a specific waiting list for over 12 weeks received a text message prompting them to respond to a short questionnaire to determine their treatment needs. To assist patients with this new communication method, the trust established a dedicated phone line and inbox to address any concerns and queries.
The success of this project has established a benchmark for other rural trusts serving ageing populations, demonstrating the effectiveness of embracing digital technologies. The trust is now focused on recording more mobile phone numbers for its patients and aims to unify all digital communications through the implementation of Healthcare Communications’ patient engagement portal.
With the regional Patient Engagement Portal set to go live as early as April 2024, Isle of Wight NHS Trust is committed to further integrating the solution with the NHS App and Wayfinder. This initiative comes at a crucial time, as the healthcare industry continues to address and alleviate lengthy waiting lists in the pursuit of elective recovery.
