The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB) is teaming up with Lenus Health to digitally transform the breathlessness diagnostic pathway at Leicester and Hinckley Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs).
Lenus Diagnose product configuration started at Leicester CDC in April 2024, with plans to go live by September 2024. The tool will also be implemented at Hinckley CDC when it opens in 2025.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust will integrate patient test results into the pathway to align with GP Direct Access guidelines to provide quicker treatment for the estimated 10% of the UK population affected by breathlessness.
The Lenus digital pathway tool is designed to expedite diagnosis by streamlining the process and integrating data capture, enabling earlier treatment at CDCs rather than hospital visits. Dr. Louise Ryan, GP and clinical lead for respiratory illness at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB, emphasized the initiative’s potential to diagnose patients at a primary care level.
Research by Dr. Rachael Evans, respiratory consultant physician at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shows that delays in diagnosis can lead to worse patient outcomes. Implementing the digital tool and pathway is expected to improve outcomes by providing earlier specialist input when needed.
Lenus Health Director, Jim McNair, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration to optimize activities and data sharing to speed up diagnosis and treatment. This partnership aims to relieve pressure on hospital resources due to undiagnosed and untreated diseases.
In addition to the implementation at Leicester CDC, an InnovateUK-funded project between the University of Leicester and Lenus Health will generate evidence on the benefits of the tool rollout. Earlier this year, Lenus Health successfully implemented a heart failure diagnostic tool at Fleetwood Community Diagnostics Centre.
