News | Health Faster help for


outpatients CLOSER liaison between GPs and consultants is leading to faster re- sults and fewer hospital visits for outpatients in Maidstone andWest Kent. The Transforming Outpatients programme being trialled by NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group is to be extended to involve more GP practices and additional specialities. Through the new online Kinesis


GP system, GPs are able to seek fast expert advice from local hospital consultants, initially for or- thopaedics, pain management and rheumatology. The aim is to ensure patients re-


ceive high quality care from GPs, nurse practitioners, practice nurses and medical secretaries in a system that is financially and time efficient. The group hopes to achieve net savings of almost £1m a year by re- ducing outpatient attendances in the hospitals, follow-up appoint- ments and the number of steps in a patient’s pathway to health. GPs are reporting patients are pleased they do not have to attend hospital outpatient departments and with the speed of decisions about their care.


downsmail.co.uk


GP support increased for care home patients


By Dennis Fowle


A PLAN to extend GP practice support for nursing and residen- tial care homes in Maidstone and West Kent has been approved by theNHSWest Kent Clinical Com- missioning Group. A pilot scheme will focus on 20 homes with comparatively high levels of emergency acute activity. The aims are to:


 reduce unplanned, avoidable hospital admissions for care home residents;  increase the number of care


MAIDSTONE and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has joined forces with Macmillan Cancer Support to fund a new Macmillan nurse clinician role for metastatic (sec- ondary) breast cancer.


Claire Ryan, who has taken up


home residents dying in their pre- ferred place of death;  increase advanced care plans de- tailing preferred place of death, a client’s consent to “do not resusci- tate”, and anticipatory plans for emergency management;  support and proactively manage clients through “improved inte- grated working of providers using a multi-disciplinary approach”. Residents considered at high risk


of unplanned hospital admissions will have access to “appropriate and consistent proactive care be-


the post, previously worked for the Trust as lead oncology research nurse at Kent Oncology Centre, during which time shewas respon- sible for developing a clinical trial portfolio researching breast cancer. Claire will offer advice, informa-


tion and support to people with metastatic breast cancer, ie breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body.


tween the hours of 8am and 6pm seven days a week, with access to alternative services outside these hours”. The intention is to prevent crisis episodes which lead to hospi- tal attendances. The system should also lead to


faster repatriation of patients from hospital to care homes. The com- missioning group agreed a pay- ment system for the support provided by GP practices.  There are 101 residential homes and 35 nursing homes inWest Kent with a total of 3,608 beds.


Help for breast cancer patients Cancer concern


A REPORT on “potential years of life lost” has shownWest Kent has started to fall behind other Kent areas with regard to cancer care. However, it is ahead on other


health problems including stroke and respiratory diseases. The West Kent Commissioning Group agreed a “deep dive” in- vestigation in to the cancer fig- ures.


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