Specialist Appointments Research Articles

Whole genome sequencing for newborns—The devil is in the details

Whole genome sequencing for newborns—The devil is in the details

Variation in ovarian cancer care in Australia: An analysis of patterns of care in diagnosis and initial treatment in New South Wales.

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of all gynaecological cancers. This study aimed to identify the extent to which women across New South Wales experienced variation in their care in diagnosis and initial treatment for ovarian cancer against the national optimal care pathway for ovarian cancer. Clinical audit methodology was utilised to explore variations for women with primary ovarian cancer; 171 eligible cases were identified through by the NSW Cancer Registry for the period of 1 March 2017 to 28 February 2018. Limited variation was detected with 86% of women being reviewed by a specialist gynaecological oncology multidisciplinary team; 54% of women received their first treatment within 28 days of their first specialist appointment, 66% of women having their first surgery completed by a gynaecological oncologist and 45% of women received their first treatment in a specialist gynaecological oncology hospital. Deviation from effective ovarian cancer care is apparent particularly in the location and timeliness of first treatment, with implications for the quality of care received and care outcomes. Understanding factors that contribute to variation is critical to ensure optimal and appropriate ovarian cancer care and to tackle systemic barriers to the provision of effective care.

Consequences of chronic heart failure on the persons social dimension

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a progressive and disabling illness that affects daily life. Decreased opportunities to participate in social life are among the most common aspects experienced by these patients, leading to reduced social interaction, loneliness, social isolation, and lack of social support to continue their activities of daily living. These experiences, in turn, have significant consequences for the health of patients with CHF, increasing the risk of comorbidities and complications. Purpose This study aimed to identify the consequences of the altered social dimension on the health of those with CHF. Methods A scoping review was carried out according to the method proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. The search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from January 2010 to November 2021. The following main steps were carried out: (1) the research question was formulated; (2) the most relevant studies were identified; (3) the studies were selected; (4) the data were analysed; and (5) the results were integrated and synthesised. The selection criteria can be found in Table 1. Results Ten articles met the selection criteria. Alterations in the social dimension of patients with CHF were identified as influencing several of their health outcomes. In particular, higher rates of depression, higher risk of readmission and death, more visits to the emergency department and outpatient specialist appointments were identified. Along with this, influences on self-care behaviors and treatment adherence were reported. Conclusions This study has shown the relevance of deepening the knowledge of each patient with CHF, giving greater importance to assessing their social dimension. This will help detect patients at greater risk of complications due to a lower perception of social support, a more significant perception of social isolation, or a poorer social network.

Virtual Specialist Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Multimethod Patient Experience Study.

BackgroundTransitioning nonemergency, ambulatory medical care to virtual visits in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic has been a massive shift in philosophy and practice that naturally came with a steep learning curve for patients, physicians, and clinic administrators.ObjectiveWe undertook a multimethod study to understand the key factors associated with successful and less successful experiences of virtual specialist care, particularly as they relate to the patient experience of care.MethodsThis study was designed as a multimethod patient experience study using survey methods, descriptive qualitative interview methodology, and administrative virtual care data collected by the hospital decision support team. Six specialty departments participated in the study (endoscopy, orthopedics, neurology, hematology, rheumatology, and gastroenterology). All patients who could speak and read English and attended a virtual specialist appointment in a participating clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) between October 1, 2020, and January 30, 2021, were eligible to participate.ResultsDuring the study period, 51,702 virtual specialist visits were conducted in the departments that participated in the study. Of those, 96% were conducted by telephone and 4% by video. In both the survey and interview data, there was an overall consensus that virtual care is a satisfying alternative to in-person care, with benefits such as reduced travel, cost, time, and SARS-CoV-2 exposure, and increased convenience. Our analysis further revealed that the specific reason for the visit and the nature and status of the medical condition are important considerations in terms of guidance on where virtual care is most effective. Technology issues were not reported as a major challenge in our data, given that the majority of “virtual” visits reported by our participants were conducted by telephone, which is an important distinction. Despite the positive value of virtual care discussed by the majority of interview participants, 50% of the survey respondents still indicated they would prefer to see their physician in person.ConclusionsPatient experience data collected in this study indicate a high level of satisfaction with virtual specialty care, but also signal that there are nuances to be considered to ensure it is an appropriate and sustainable part of the standard of care.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs Assessment & Interventions in a Female Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit

IntroductionThis quality improvement project was a collaboration between an adult, inpatient female psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) in South London and the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Inclusion and Empowerment (SHRINE) programme. SHRINE is a London-based programme delivering SRH care to any individual with serious mental illness, substance misuse and/or learning disability.ObjectivesThe primary aim of this quality improvement project was to assess patients’ sexual and reproductive (SRH) needs, and the acceptability of providing SRH assessments in a female PICU setting. Secondary aims were to explore the barriers to access and the feasibility of providing SRH assessments and SHRINE interventions in the PICU.MethodsA bi-monthly SRH in-reach clinic and a nurse led SRH referral pathway were implemented on the PICU over a seven-month period. Within a quality improvement framework, a staff training needs assessment was performed, training delivered, a protocol developed, staff attitudes explored, and patient and carer engagement sought.Results30% of women were identified as having unmet SRH needs and proceeded to a specialist appointment, representing a 2.5-fold increase in unmet need detection. 42% of women were assessed, representing a 3.5-fold increase in uptake. 21% of women initiated SRH interventions of which 14% had all their SRH needs met.ConclusionsResults identified SRH needs for PICU admissions are greater than realised. Staff highlighted the acceptability and importance of SRH care, if interventions are appropriately timed and the patient’s individual risk profile considered. Providing a nurse-led referral pathway for an SRH in-reach clinic is acceptable, feasible and beneficial for PICU patients.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

078 Myotonic dystrophy service redesign: report on a patient engagement event

IntroductionInternational consensus-based care recommendations for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) have been published recently. Audit of the DM1 service at the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences (MCCN) against these was presented at the 2019 ABN. Significant scope for improve- ment was identified.MethodsAs part of DM1 service redesign at MCCN an engagement event was organised. Opinions of patients, carers and relatives on service provision and areas for improvement were explored. With reference to published care recommendations, attendees participated in structured small group discus- sions. Responses were recorded by a facilitator and thematic analysis performed.ResultsIn total, 69 service-users attended. Themes emerging included a perceived lack of support between consultant appointments, inadequate access to specialist therapy services, a lack of awareness of available support services, and an inadequate understanding of DM1 by healthcare professionals. Suggestions for improvement included setting up joint appointments and patient forums for group discus- sion, increased use of telephone/online appointments, and setup of a more responsive service facilitated by a specialist nurse.ConclusionThese findings have been incorporated in to the DM1 service redesign programme at MCCN, which has included the recent appointment of a neuromuscular specialist nurse. Re-audit of the service is planned.james.dent@doctors.org.uk

Specialist wait time reporting using family physicians\u2019 electronic medical record data: a mixed method study of feasibility and clinical utility

BackgroundMore than 50% of Canadian adult patients wait longer than four weeks to see a specialist after referral from primary care. Access to accurate wait time information may help primary care physicians choose the timeliest specialist to address a patient’s specific needs. We conducted a mixed-methods study to assess if primary to specialist care wait times can be extracted from electronic medical records (EMR), analyzed the wait time information, and used focus groups and interviews to assess the potential clinical utility of the wait time information.MethodsTwo family practices were recruited to examine primary care physician to specialist wait times between January 2016 and December 2017, using EMR data. The primary outcome was the median wait time from physician referral to specialist appointment for each specialty service. Secondary outcomes included the physician and patient characteristics associated with wait times as well as qualitative analyses of physician interviews about the resulting wait time reports.ResultsWait time data can be extracted from the primary care EMR and converted to a report format for family physicians and specialists to review. After data cleaning, there were 7141 referrals included from 4967 unique patients. The 5 most common specialties referred to were Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Ear Nose and Throat, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology. Half of the patients were seen by a specialist within 42 days, 75% seen within 80 days and all patients within 760 days. There were significant differences in wait times by specialty, for younger patients, and those with urgently labelled medical situations. Overall, wait time reports were perceived by clinicians to be important since they could help family physicians decide how to triage referrals and might lead to system improvements.ConclusionsWait time information from primary to specialist care can aid in decision-making around specialist referrals, identify bottlenecks, and help with system planning. This mixed method study is a starting point to review the importance of providing wait time data for both family physicians, specialists and local health systems. Future work can be directed towards developing wait time reporting functionality and evaluating if wait time information will help increase system efficiency and/or improve provider and patient satisfaction.

THE USE OF BIOMIMETIC NANOCRYSTALS ZN-CARBONATE HYDROXYAPATITE IN THE TREATMENT OF LOCALIZED HYPERSENSITIVITY OF HARD TISSUES OF TEETH

Abstract: The problem of hypersensitivity of hard tissues of teeth remains relevant in modern dentistry to this day. Despite the fact that the market of dental products is saturated with ultramodern means to reduce the sensitivity of hard tissues of teeth, the issue associated with the relief of pain remains open. To develop a new approach to solving this problem, localized hypersensitivity of the 2nd degree of hard dental tissues was treated in 40 patients aged 20 to 45 years of both sexes. According to the concept of biomimetic/bioemulation, which became the scientific basis for the study, a toothpaste containing a mixture of bioactive microparticles of carbonate hydroxyapatite with zinc-substituted, similar to the structure of human teeth (biomimetic nanocrystals microRepair®) was used. There was a statistically significant prolonged decrease in the sensitivity of hard tooth tissues when using professional toothpaste with bioactive microparticles, provided its combined use in clinical conditions and at home, with daily use in the form of brushing teeth, compared with its single-component application at a specialist's appointment.

Initiation of antiretroviral therapy in treatment-naive adults with HIV infection at the first specialist appointment.

Fast initiation of ART has been associated with higher rates of retention in HIV care and viral suppression at 48 weeks and with lower mortality rates. However, scarce evidence exists in our setting, where diagnosis and treatment are carried out in different contexts. An observational retrospective study evaluating efficacy and safety of ART prescribed at the first specialist appointment, without baseline laboratory data, in a tertiary hospital in downtown Madrid. Individuals with a new diagnosis of HIV infection who initiated treatment at their first appointment with an infectious diseases specialist before receiving baseline laboratory results were included, irrespective of the ART regimen chosen. One hundred and eight participants were included. The majority (99.1%) were MSM who had acquired infection during sexual intercourse. The efficacy of ART, without baseline laboratory results at the time of initiation, was 85.2% (92/108) in the ITT analysis and 91.7% (99/108) in the treatment-related discontinuation equals failure analysis. All but nine patients presented an undetectable viral load (<50 copies/mL) at 48 weeks from starting ART. No serious adverse effects associated with the strategy were observed. In total, 101 participants continued care at 48 weeks with retention in HIV care rate of 93.5% (101/108). Initiating ART at the first available opportunity without baseline laboratory data does not reduce efficacy or safety of ART and achieves rapid virological control with high rates of retention in HIV care.

Facilitating remote access to specialist medical expertise through the scaled up adoption of a smartphone application: A South African case

Background. In the context of a shortage of medical specialists, a medical referral app, designed for use on smartphones, was launched in 2014 for use by doctors in the public health service in South Africa. Objectives. As this is a novel intervention, with potential to have an impact on the use of scarce resources, and because not much was known about the use of the app, a descriptive study was undertaken to assess its adoption in Western Cape Government Health (WCGH) facilities. Methods. Usage data of the app in WCGH facilities, in terms of referral and user numbers, were obtained from the date of its introduction in 2014. In addition, all the referrals to WCGH facilities for July 2019, stripped of any identifying data of patients or doctors, were analysed for origin, destination, outcome and response times. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Results. Use of the app grew rapidly from 40 referrals per quarter to 16 437 per quarter after 5 years in use, with a cumulative total of 95 381 referrals. In July 2019, active users of the system included 913 sending doctors and 298 receiving doctors, representing 20 medical specialties. The senders and receivers were representative of every level in the healthcare system, from clinic to tertiary hospital. In July 2019, a total of 5 941 referrals were sent by means of the app to public facilities in Western Cape Province. Of the referrals, 80% were classified as acute and 20% as non-urgent. The referral outcomes included 51% accepted for transfer, 19% accepted for a specialist appointment, and 13% concluded with advice alone without the need for a specialist appointment or patient transfer – this category accounted for 28% of non-urgent referrals and 9% of acute referrals. In 50% of referrals, advice was given to the referring doctor, either as an additional or the only outcome. The median response times were 9 minutes for acute referrals and 19 minutes for non-urgent referrals. Conclusions. This study documents the scale-up of a mobile phone consultation and referral app from pilot phase to significant growth in use across a resource-constrained healthcare system. In a large proportion of cases, advice was given to the referring doctor by means of the app, frequently obviating the need for a specialist appointment or patient transfer. This finding demonstrates that a mobile app has the potential to reduce the need for face-to-face specialist visits, thereby improving the use of scarce medical resources

Timeliness of Financial Reporting: The Examination of Auditor Tenure and Industry Specialization

This study examines the effect of auditor tenure and industry specialization on financial reporting timeliness. Using evidence from the corporate report of public listed companies in Malaysia, the results from multivariate regression analysis show that audit firm tenure and industry specialization are associated with financial reporting timeliness. The findings show that audit tenure is positively associated with a timelier financial reporting, indicating a shorter audit period. This evidence is consistent with the knowledge spillover arguments. The results also indicate that industry specialist is linked with less timely financial reporting, in which the appointment of industry specialist would result in a longer period to complete audit, probably because a large number of clients to be handled. The result is robust even after including various controls namely auditor size, audit fees, audit committee size, CEO duality, financial year end, firm size, leverage, and growth. The evidence suggests that financial reporting timeliness can be improved by retaining incumbent auditor and selecting a non-industry specialist. This study contributes to the existing literature on the role of auditor in providing timely financial reports. The results of this study are useful for regulators in Malaysia as an input for their effort in setting the rules and regulation relating to auditor tenure to enhance the relevance of corporate reports produced by publicly listed firms.

Primary Care System Factors and Clinical Decision-making in Patients that Could Have Lung Cancer: a Vignette Study in Five Balkan Region Countries.

IntroductionLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, with wide variations in national survival rates. This study compares primary care system factors and primary care practitioners’ (PCPs’) clinical decision-making for a vignette of a patient that could have lung cancer in five Balkan region countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania).MethodsPCPs participated in an online questionnaire that asked for demographic data, practice characteristics, and information on health system factors. Participants were also asked to make clinical decisions in a vignette of a patient with possible lung cancer.ResultsThe survey was completed by 475 PCPs. There were significant national differences in PCPs’ direct access to investigations, particularly to advanced imaging. PCPs from Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania were more likely to organise relevant investigations. The highest specialist referral rates were in Bulgaria and Romania. PCPs in Bulgaria were less likely to have access to clinical guidelines, and PCPs from Slovenia and Croatia were more likely to have access to a cancer fast-track specialist appointment system. The PCPs’ country had a significant effect on their likelihood of investigating or referring the patient.ConclusionsThere are large differences between Balkan region countries in PCPs’ levels of direct access to investigations. When faced with a vignette of a patient with the possibility of having lung cancer, their investigation and referral rates vary considerably. To reduce diagnostic delay in lung cancer, direct PCP access to advanced imaging, availability of relevant clinical guidelines, and fast-track referral systems are needed.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Cancer Fast-Track Programme.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of clinical practice in oncology, particularly regarding early cancer diagnosis, sparking public health concerns that possible delays could increase the proportion of patients diagnosed at advanced stages. In 2009, a cancer fast-track program (CFP) was implemented at the Clinico-Malvarrosa Health Department in Valencia, Spain with the aim of shortening waiting times between suspected cancer symptoms, diagnosis and therapy initiation. The study aimed to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our cancer diagnosis fast-track program. The program workflow (patients included and time periods) was analysed from the beginning of the state of alarm on March 16th, 2020 until March 15th, 2021. Data was compared with data from the same period of time from the year before (2019). During the pandemic year, 975 suspected cancer cases were submitted to the CFP. The number of submissions only decreased during times of highest COVID-19 incidence and stricter lockdown, and overall, referrals were slightly higher than in the previous 2years. Cancer diagnosis was confirmed in 197 (24.1%) cases, among which 33% were urological, 23% breast, 16% gastrointestinal and 9% lung cancer. The median time from referral to specialist appointment was 13days and diagnosis was reached at a median of 18days. In confirmed cancer cases, treatment was started at around 30days from time of diagnosis. In total, 61% of cancer disease was detected at early stage, 20% at locally advanced stage, and 19% at advanced stage, displaying time frames and case proportions similar to pre-pandemic years. Our program has been able to maintain normal flow and efficacy despite the challenges of the current pandemic, and has proven a reliable tool to help primary care physicians referring suspected cancer patients.

Factors Affecting the Patient Journey in Scheduling a Specialist Appointment in a Public Healthcare System.

A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the journey experienced by patients from identifying a need to see a community specialist in Israel's public healthcare system, through scheduling an appointment and attending. A telephone survey was conducted with a nationally representative group of 3751 adults, in 2019 to 2020. Fifty-seven percent needed to see a specialist in the last 6 months; among those, 82%, visited a specialist. Among the 3% who did not make an appointment, in 41 of 52 (79%) cases this was due to long waiting time. Younger and more educated patients were more likely to try to get an earlier appointment. Timeliness (55%) and wanting a specific physician (43%) were major considerations in scheduling. Reported need was greater in females, Jewish versus Arab respondents, more educated and those with chronic illness. Those who did not make an appointment sought private care, emergency treatment, or went untreated. Although a large percentage of respondents did eventually get an appointment, vulnerable patients may have more difficulty navigating the system. Following the patient journey can provide insights to help design services better suited to patients’ needs.

A Prioritization-Scheduling Optimization Approach for Reducing Long Hospital Outpatient Waiting Times for Specialist Appointments

A Prioritization-Scheduling Optimization Approach for Reducing Long Hospital Outpatient Waiting Times for Specialist Appointments

Victorian Lung Cancer Service Redesign Project: impacts of a quality improvement collaborative on timeliness and management in lung cancer.

Lung cancer management is characterised by a high disease burden, poor survival and substantial variation in management and outcomes. Service redesign provides opportunities for quality improvement (QI) and this improvement may be leveraged across multiple sites using QI collaboration. This initiative targeted Quality Improvement (QI) in lung cancer management, engaging a QI collaborative using service redesign methodologies in five Victorian hospitals. QI targets included timeliness from referral and diagnosis to treatment, multi-disciplinary meeting (MDM) presentation and supportive care screening. Redesign strategies targeted process sustainability through enhanced team capability. This study engaged a prospective quality improvement cohort design targeting newly diagnosed tissue confirmed lung cancer with 6-month pre-intervention period and 6-month redesign implementation period, between September 2016 and August 2017, evaluated using Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Hospital sites included three regional and two metropolitan hospitals in Victoria. QI redesign targeted time intervals from referral to first specialist appointment (FSA), referral to diagnosis, diagnosis to first treatment (any intent), MDM documented in medical records and Supportive Care Screening Tool documented in medical records. There was a marked reduction in referral to FSA interval across all sites, with median (interquartile range) falling from 6 (0-15) to 4 (1-10) days, and proportion seen by a specialist within 14 days increased from 74.3% to 84.2%. The interval between diagnosis and treatment was not substantively changed in the 6-month implementation period. The proportion of subjects with documented presentation to the MDM increased from 61% to 67%. The proportion for which Supportive Care Screening documentation remained low at 26.3% post-intervention. Data-driven redesign initiatives enable identification and analysis of clinical practice variation and may be utilised to enhance timeliness of cancer care and improve local data service capabilities.

Safety and efficacy of virtual first specialist appointment in neurology: A 2018–2019 audit

Safety and efficacy of virtual first specialist appointment in neurology: A 2018–2019 audit

Sexual and reproductive health needs assessment and interventions in a female psychiatric intensive care unit.

To assess the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of women admitted to a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU), and acceptability of delivering specialist SRH assessments and interventions in this setting. Within a quality improvement framework, staff were trained, a clinical protocol developed and clinical interventions made accessible. Thirty per cent of women were identified as having unmet SRH needs and proceeded to a specialist appointment, representing a 2.5-fold increase in unmet need detection. Forty-two per cent of women were assessed, representing a 3.5-fold increase in uptake. Twenty-one per cent of women initiated SRH interventions, of which 14% had all their SRH needs met. Staff, patients and carers highlighted the acceptability and importance of SRH care, if interventions were appropriately timed and patients' individual risk profiles were considered. Barriers to access included lack of routine enquiry, illness acuity and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. SRH needs for PICU admissions are greater than previously realised. Providing a nurse-led SRH assessment is acceptable, feasible and beneficial for PICU patients.

106 Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare for Medically-Complex Children and Youth

Primary Subject areaComplex CareBackgroundCOVID-19 and associated pandemic measures have disproportionately affected already vulnerable populations, including medically-complex children and youth. In Canada, about one percent of children and youth aged 0 to 18 years (inclusive) are medically complex, which is characterized by having complex, chronic conditions that require specialized care, high healthcare service usage, and functional dependence. In addition to being high users of formal healthcare services, it is estimated that parents spent an average of 52 hours per week providing unpaid care.ObjectivesAs part of a larger study exploring the effect of the pandemic on these children and their families, the impact on healthcare usage by this population was investigated.Design/MethodsIn August 2020, a web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with parents of medically-complex children and youth in British Columbia, Canada. A convenience sample was recruited through posting advertisements on social media platforms, word of mouth, and amplifying the study via the media. The survey, co-created with parent co-researchers, was comprised of 93 questions. It was divided into three sections that focused on pre- and post-pandemic questions about a) medically complex child(ren), b) family/household/community characteristics, and c) respondent demographics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsResults illustrate the largely negative impact of the pandemic on this population’s healthcare usage. The survey was completed by 156 parents, mainly mothers (92.3%) who reported information for 188 medically complex children and youth. The children ranged in age from 0 to 18 years, with an average age of 9.5 years, and 58.0% were boys. Between February and August 2020, 30.3% of children had visited the emergency department and the same percentage had parents who avoided taking them in circumstances where they typically would have. 36.2% of the children had been admitted to hospital during that period. The children typically saw an average of four medical specialists and during the pandemic 63.8% had a specialist appointment cancelled or postponed by the clinic. During this time, there was also a steep decline or stoppage of all allied health therapies.ConclusionThese results demonstrate a lack of pandemic preparedness to ensure continuity of services. Consequently, medically complex children and youth may be missing key interventions to address ongoing health issues and maintain functional abilities. More proactive planning and coordination are needed to ensure that future situations will not lead to lack of access or therapy for this vulnerable group.

977 The Role of Telephone Triage in Head and Neck Cancer Care in a Teaching Hospital

Abstract Introduction NHS England sets standards to ensure prompt specialist review, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Patients with suspected cancer should receive specialist review within 14 days of referral, diagnosis by day 28 and first treatment by day 62. To reduce transmission during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the NHS recommended telephone triage as the first specialist appointment. The effect of telephone triage on head and neck cancer timeframes in an NHS teaching hospital was assessed. Method Four head and neck cancer telephone triage clinics during July 2020 were selected at random. Clinical correspondence and the electronic patient records were reviewed for each patient and cancer pathway timeframes were analysed. Results 31 patients were referred for telephone triage and 100% received specialist review within 14 days. Subsequently 17 (55%) patients were investigated, 12 (71%) of which received a diagnosis within 28 days. 4 patients received a cancer diagnosis, but none received first treatment within 62 days. 24 (77%) patients were seen in a face-to-face clinic after telephone triage on average 7 days after telephone triage. Conclusions In this sample, telephone triage allowed safe initial specialist review by meeting the 14-day standard. However, the 28-day diagnosis and 62-day treatment standards were not adhered to. Telephone triage does not largely reduce overall patient contact, with 77% of patients subsequently reviewed in a patient-facing setting. The addition of telephone triage delayed first clinical examination by a specialist by an average of 7 days, which may be a contributing factor to the delays seen in diagnosis and treatment.