Warwick Hospital saves money and 'improves patient care' by using new app

A new app which helps healthcare staff decide where best to treat people has improved care for elderly patients and saved money, according to Warwick Hospital.

Consultant Connect works by connecting paramedics and GPs directly to a hospital consultant who assesses the needs of the frail patients over 75.

A decision is then made about whether that person needs to be brought into hospital, or if they can be treated better in the community.

In the last year the app has been used approximately 1400 times, and in around half of those cases, people have been treated at home instead of the hospital.

Paramedic Claire Sweet says the app is beneficial for many patients, adding: "it is important to keep a patient in their own environment, it stops muscle wastage as if you end up in hospital then it is a prolonged amount of time, possibly in a bed, and if you are able to be treated at home it is a lot nicer and a lot easier".

The app is used instead of a phone call because it allows those accessing it to see patient records.

It means patients only have to call one number to get through to a consultant and the calls are recorded so the hospital can keep records.

Warwick Hospital says that by treating people in the community, instead of in hospital, they have been able to close a surge ward, resulting in savings of more than £1.5 million in temporary staffing costs.

Using the app also allows for consultants to be made aware of when people are coming into hospital, so they can prepare for them on the Fragility Ward and they do not have to wait in A&E.

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