Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust has introduced a new waiting list validation system to improve patient care and efficiency.
Powered by Netcall, the system, launched on July 9, 2024, will allow patients waiting for more than 12 weeks for an appointment with the outpatient team to confirm their status on the Patient Hub via text.
Patients can choose to remain on the waiting list, be removed if their condition has improved, or be taken off if treated elsewhere. This data will be automatically updated in each specialty’s booking teams, reducing missed appointments and ensuring quicker treatment.
Tony Ray, patient access manager, expressed optimism about the system benefiting patients across various medical specialities, with plans to expand its usage throughout 2024.
Funded by NHS England’s ‘mobile first fund’, the system also aims to save costs associated with traditional letters and enhance patient engagement.
Netcall’s John Clarke praised Torbay and South Devon NHS for their innovative use of automation to address waiting list challenges and improve patient care, setting a benchmark for other trusts in the region.
The trust’s decision to select Epic as its preferred electronic patient record system supplier further underscores their commitment to modernizing healthcare services.
