NEXT STEPS
The wider SLT regional developments must remain central, specifically:
• Work on improved identification to ensure timely and accurate referral
• Training within the wider workforce to EDSCF Level 2 to allow for better/safer
management of the dysphasic clients and to ensure that clients are safely kept at the
pre-referral stage for longer
• Training in screening - Level 4 EDSCF practitioner. Inherent in this will be careful
onward referral with identification of the signs and symptoms to allow for more accurate
triage thereby allowing those with significant issues to be seen within the agreed urgent
time frames.
Nutrition and Diet Therapy - Gastro Transformation Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS Service)
Dietetics where successful in obtaining transformation funding for IBS and the aims were as
follows:
- Support the new patient pathways for Gastroenterology
- Reduce demand for Consultant lead outpatient clinics
- Encourage effective patient self-management
- Prevent such referrals from being processed through the normal AHP elective care
route.
Activity was recorded for attendance and non-attendance at clinics. While treatment goals and
outcomes where measured using the Dietetic Model and Care Process.
554 new patient appointments and 269 review appointments were seen during this time, and there
was an 89% attendance rate for 2019/2020. The Gastroenterologists triaged 43 patients from their
waiting list to go directly to Dietetic assessment and treatment.
NEXT STEPS
IBS referrals will continue to be managed from the Dietetic waiting list. There will be a longer
waiting time for appointments to the IBS Gastro Dietetic services because unfortunately this
transformation funding has not been made recurrent, therefore resulting in a subsequent
reduction in the number of clinics that can be run.
Continuation of 'First Contact Dietitian' pilot in 1 GP Practice will continue. This should
identify IBS patients that can be given first line dietary advice in Primary Care setting.
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Goal 5: Integrating the Care - Community Care