This has been a real team effort, with work focused on the endometriosis, vulval (outpatient), general gynaecology follow up and hysteroscopy services, where patients are waiting the longest.
As an example of the collaborative approach to managing our waiting lists and providing equity to our patients, our Endometriosis consultants have swapped their general gynaecology clinics (three per week) to endometriosis only clinics to reduce the wait for a first endometriosis appointment. This has reduced wait times for a first endometriosis appointment by nine weeks.
The team have also established a Woman’s Health Hub in Leeds, providing training, education and support to GPs. GPs working in the hub are now confident in seeing patients independently and this is further aiding a reduction in our hospital waiting times. The hub not only helps patients to be seen sooner, but it enables them to receive care in the community closer to home.
Some appointments are also being held at Wharfedale Hospital, freeing up space at St James’s and reducing the risk of procedures being cancelled due to operational pressures.
The team have implemented Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) which is supporting a reduction in the general gynaecology waiting list. PIFU enables patients to contact the team if they feel they need a follow-up appointment up to one year after being seen. For patients who feel they no longer need to be seen at the hospital, this means that their appointment is no longer needed and can be given to another patient.
The team has implemented specialist triage for routine vulval referrals, which has led to 34% of vulval referrals being discharged with advice and guidance, meaning patients do not need to wait over a year to be seen. The team is also looking to implement teledermatology, where GPs or patients can send a photo for review by a clinician, which will help to reduce inappropriate two-week wait pathway referrals further.
Andy Harding, General Manager for Women’s Services at LTHT, said:
“Our teams have been working incredibly hard to reduce our gynaecology waiting lists. It hasn’t been easy, but the use of PIFU, more flexibility with clinics, and validating more of our waiting lists, are all contributing to our progress in meeting the Trust’s targets and reducing waits for patients.”
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