Heartbeat: Cardiology keep up the pace through COVID

September 6, 2021

COVID-19 has completely reshaped the landscape of how services have been delivered, bringing with it a unique set of opportunities alongside the very obvious and real challenges. One of the biggest changes that has transformed services has been remote consultations – being able to see, support and consult with a patient over the internet. Whilst this new approach was at first seen as a temporary measure, there is growing evidence to support the long term benefits as a sustainable and patient focused operating model.

The cardiology department has experienced significant challenges in achieving the 18 week ‘Referral to Treatment’ target. With a steady rise in demand coupled with the complexities of the service pathway, leading to longer than acceptable waits for patient care, it was clear that given the challenges from the pandemic, and without intervention would have deteriorated further. However, for cardiology the COVID-19 pandemic has seen steady improvements over the last 12 months, culminating in the speciality achieving their 18 week Referral To Treatment (RTT) for May 2021 – for the first time in over two years.

Sharing his thoughts, Directorate General Manager, Chander Sharma said: “There is no magic bullet that has enabled us to suddenly meet our targets. It’s been the hard work, tenacity and flexibility from all colleagues. Virtual working has its limitations and always will, however it has offered the speciality a moment of pause and reflection, to appreciate new ways of working and the corresponding benefits it can provide for both patients and clinicians. Historically cardiology has been a diagnostic-heavy service, with multiple tests being undertaken to diagnose conditions.

Whilst this has, and remains, a good approach for completeness of care, the pandemic has encouraged clinicians to think differently. ‘Does this patient genuinely require a test?’, ‘Is there an alternative route for treatment out in community or via GPs with specialist interests?’, – these are just a few of the kinds of questions that the clinicians have been asking themselves and of their teams.

“The new way of working really has benefitted patient experience and has led to a reduction in potentially unnecessary hospital interventions. This change in approach, which has been spearheaded by the cardiology support team of Josephine Johnson and Lisa Bate, has led to patients often being given a clinical outcome far sooner than before – leading to a significant improvement in the RTT performance. Virtual appointments have also helped maximise clinical efficiencies by reducing ‘Did not attend’ (DNA) rates as patients find it much easier and convenient to access their appointment.

“Whilst there are the occasional technical difficulties with virtual working, overall the system works and will, as part of a package of innovation and reform, help support the Trust restoration and recovery plans.”