News

The Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network supported an event last week that explored how the use of digital tools could help improve services in outpatient departments.

Led by NHS Improvement, the event brought together NHS staff, the AHSN and industry experts.

Richard Stubbs, Chief Executive of Yorkshire & Humber AHSN welcomed the delegates.

Vincent Connolly, Medical Director at NHS Improvement, gave a presentation in which he discussed the national context around delivering digital care.

Delegates also heard about local case studies, which explored how hospitals and industry are working together to implement change within an outpatient service. These included:

• Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust with Healthcare Communications on how the Trust has implemented digital outpatient letters, resulting in a decrease in missed appointments and a reduction in postal letter costs by 50%’
• Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust with Aire Logic explained how using digital forms to collect information before outpatient appointments, provided the patient with a more meaningful consultation.

Other presentations came from a short ‘Industry Insights’ section and included the following companies:

• ADI Healthcare
• Dr Doctor
• Dynamic Health Systems
• HaMpton
• Health Navigator
• Healthy.io
• Patients Know Best

Delegates also took part in round table discussions focused on: referrals, appointments, wayfinding, behaviour change and remote consultations.

The event provided an opportunity for a diverse range of NHS staff, from across the region, to come together, discuss priorities for outpatient services and look at how improvements can be made with the wealth of digital innovation that is available.