What is Consultant Connect?
A service which provides GPs with immediate access to telephone-based, patient-specific advice from local hospital consultants. Consultant connect should only be used in cases where you’re considering referring the patient (i.e. for pre-referral advice).
Using Consultant Connect
You can access Consultant Connect at any time between 09:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday. The process is simple:
- Download the Consultant Connect app (via Apple Store or Google Play) to your mobile phone and create an account using your NHS email.
- Login to your account. The ‘Phone’ tab will automatically open. Here you’ll see a list of specialisms, select the most relevant one. 👉
- You’ll then be asked to enter the patient’s NHS number. Once you’ve done this, click ‘Next’.
- Click ‘Start call’ to connect to a team of consultants. A single team member is contacted first, and will have 20 seconds to answer the call before it’s automatically forwarded onto the next. If your call doesn’t connect to a consultant, wait at least 10 minutes before calling back.
- Once connected, discuss your queries with the consultant.
- When the call ends, select the outcome from the list shown. 👉
- Make note of the advice given/outcome in the patients consultation notes.
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Please note that the consultant may not have access to patient records. So, make sure you’re prepared to explain the patient’s history and examination findings.
PhotoSAF Feature
The app has a ‘PhotoSAF’ feature which allows you to take clinical photos on your mobile phone (if required). To use PhotoSAF:
- Select the ‘PhotoSAF’ tab in the toolbar.
- You’ll be prompted to confirm patient consent/best interests. After you’ve done this, you can take photos.
- Once you’re happy with the photos, enter the patient’s NHS number and add any notes.
- Select ‘Save these photos’. This will send photos (and notes) to your NHS email address. From here, you can share photos with consultants, attach them to a referral (e.g., via e-RS), or add them to the patient’s record.
For further guidance, see the Consultant Connect PhotoSAF User Guide
Contacting Dermatologists via Messages
If you’re looking for pre-referral advice from a Dermatologist, the process is a bit different as we don’t contact them via phone call. Instead, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the ‘Messages’ tab of the toolbar (shown above)
- Here, select whether you would like to contact ‘Dermatology’ or ‘Paediatric Dermatology’
- Enter the patients NHS number
- Complete the required information, and attach any photos via PhotoSAF by clicking on the blue camera button in the bottom right corner
- Send the message. You’ll then be re-directed to the homepage of the ‘Messages’ tab, where you’re message will appear under ‘Open’. You should receive a reply within 1 working day.
If a patient has sent you photos (e.g. via AccuRX), complete the steps above and then select the chat from the ‘open’ section and attach the photos.
Resources & training: