Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist provider of prostatectomy for Cheshire and Merseyside.
The typical follow-up treatment post-surgery for a patient involves undergoing a diagnostic test every four months and a subsequent outpatient appointment to discuss the results of the test.
Over the usual follow-up period of five years, this can equate to over 12 outpatient appointments the patient needs attend, often with long travel times.
PSFU was introduced for Urology in April 2018 at the Trust and now all patients who meet the clinical criteria are transitioned to the PSFU pathway of care once the consultant makes the referral. In line with the PSFU patient journey developed across CMCA, the patient is supported by a dedicated CSW with the option to attend a group health and wellbeing event to meet other patients and learn how to use the remote monitoring platform, My Medical Record (MMR). The CSW makes referrals for the patient to relevant community and wellbeing services in line with the holistic needs assessment and remains the patient's single point of contact for specialist care.
Results of implementing PSFU have been beneficial in terms of patient and clinician experience, quality of care realising efficiencies. Unless clinically indicated, all patients have chosen to remain on the PSFU pathway. Feedback on the service is excellent and includes patients valuing the time and money it has saved them (by not having to attend outpatient appointments), the assurance of a named individual for support i.e. the CSW, and peer- support opportunities. The estimated clinical capacity which has been able to be redeployed for every patient who has been transitioned to PSFU is equivalent to 5349 outpatient appointments. This has supported additional high-value activities such as 28 additional prostatectomies and 13 additional renal related surgeries to be conducted in 2019.
Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals NHS Trust introduced PSFU for colorectal cancer in May 2015. Today all patients who meet the clinical criteria are transitioned to the PSFU pathway, and this includes patients who were initially started on the traditional out-patient pathway of care. In line with the PSFU patient journey developed across CMCA, the patient is supported by a dedicated CSW with the option to attend a group health and wellbeing event or personal education session to obtain the knowledge and skills to advance their recovery and wellbeing, and use the remote monitoring platform, My Medical Record (MMR).
PSFU has yielded beneficial results in terms of patient and clinician experience, quality of care productivity. Unless clinically indicated, all patients have chosen to remain on the PSFU pathway. Feedback from patients attending the health and wellbeing events has been overwhelmingly positive with the majority strongly recommending the value of attending these events and using MMR (as per patient surveys conducted at events). There has been an increase in the deployment and recording of the personalised care package including an increase in the number of end of treatment summaries and Holistic Assessments being completed.
The estimated clinical capacity which has been able to be redeployed for every patient who has been transitioned to PSFU is equivalent to 1250 outpatient appointments (May 2015 to July 2019). This has supported additional high-value activities such as adding new patient clinics.