Gloucestershire embarks on mission to better share specialist data

Secondary care services in Gloucestershire are set to have access to real-time data of patients who have been referred from primary care services through specialist advice pathways.

The region has deployed the SHREWD Resilience system from data sharing specialists Transforming Systems and the SmartReferrals solution from clinical communications provider Cinapsis.

The two suppliers have collaborated to feature real-time updates from the Cinapsis SmartReferrals system on the SHREWD data platform.

It will provide secondary care teams and commissioners with essential insights into the demand for specialist advice pathways coming from primary care. This live visibility will enable clinicians to better streamline and coordinate patient flow in urgent and emergency care departments.

Holly Howell, commissioning manager for urgent care at Gloucestershire CCG, said: “Access to Cinapsis via SHREWD is a great development as it gives ‘real time’ information to the Integrated Care System in Gloucestershire; either identifying issues within referral services or reassuring the system that services are running smoothly.

“This will undoubtedly enhance the quality of service delivery and overall patient experience.”

SHREWD Resilience is a cloud-based platform that enables health and care systems to access real-time data to identify areas of concern, such as pressures in urgent care.

The data is accessible through a web platform and app and takes data from all system providers across a health and social care setting.

Cinapsis’s SmartReferrals system allows primary and secondary care clinicians, paramedics and NHS 111 operators to communicate to better provide guidance for patients.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust saw A&E referrals drop by 83% after partnering with Cinapsis. Since the coronavirus outbreak began, 40% of patients in Gloucestershire with Covid-19 have been cared for safely at home.

The platform has also made it possible for 70% of elective advice and guidance requests, such as dermatology, to be managed without a face-to-face or virtual dermatology appointment.

Dr Owain Rhys Hughes, chief executive and founder of Cinapsis, added: “Timely access to accurate, detailed data is essential for the smarter management of patient care.

“By integrating Cinapsis SmartReferrals with the SHREWD interface, the impact of our data insights will be dramatically scaled. Instead of being forced to tackle demand surges reactively, service providers can now make intelligent adaptations to maximise their capacity.”

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