909 ENT Telephone Clinic During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Introduction In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ENT services in NHS hospitals have fundamentally changed the way they function. Focus is narrowed on emergency care and cancer care, with cancellation of most elective procedures. In response to this, 2 week wait (2ww) ENT telephone clinics were set up. This project reviewed the effectiveness of ENT telephone clinic appointments in managing 2ww referrals and to determine whether the introduction of 2ww telephone clinics improves patient waiting times and appropriates of referrals. Method Retrospective review of ENT telephone clinic 2ww referral outcomes at Eastbourne District General Hospital and the effectiveness of managing these patients. Results A total of 58 ENT Telephone Clinic 2ww referrals from the GP were reviewed. After a telephone consultation 63% of patients were referred to 2ww imaging, from which 70% were discharged following imaging. 83% of patient offered face to face appointment following imaging, required further investigation or treatment, again reducing delay in diagnosis. Conclusions Telephone clinic is an effective way of managing 2ww referral patients. In the ongoing pandemic, telephone clinics will be used to manage cancer pathways. This study shows that a large number of patients are discharged after imaging following a telephone clinic. Further study is required to determine whether low scoring patients on symptom-based risk calculators for cancer referrals could be directly referred to imaging to avoid delay in diagnosis, reduce anxiety as well as allow appropriate resource allocation.