1. Transforming Outpatients Project
Commissioner – Pauline Stevenson
PPG Chair Rep – Mel Randall

2. Scope of Project
The Transforming Outpatients Project is a patient-centred, system-wide transformation of outpatient referral and patient management.
The goal is to reduce the number of un-necessary outpatient referrals and deliver more streamlined patient pathways.
If an outpatient appointment is required, the GP will have “worked up” the patient in primary care; the appropriate diagnostics and blood tests will be requested before the patient is seen by the consultant.
Kinesis is N3 secure online software which enables GPs to ask for advice and guidance from specialist consultants, with the view to manage a patient’s condition online.
Consultants in Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Pain Management at MTW have been using Kinesis since September Haematology consultants have been using Kinesis since December Paediatrics consultants will be available for GPs to contact on Kinesis as of April 2015.

3. Aim of the Project is Improve patient experience
Improve efficiency and productivity
Improve patient safety
Reduce costs
Provide real time education to GPs
Enhance the work experience of primary and secondary care staff

4. Benefits For the Patient For the GP For the Hospital Specialist
Saves waiting time for appointments and delays in treatment
More appropriate care in the community from people they know and trust
Potentially quicker access to secondary care where urgency requires it
Easy, quick access to wide variety and number of specialists
Cost saving for GP and CCG in terms of reduced Outpatient referrals
Improved care for patient
Effective use of their knowledge and expertise to drive more efficient healthcare
Less wasted time with unnecessary referrals
Potential income generation and improved levels of service for the trust

5. Patient Reps on Working Group – Diane Raper and Mel Randall
As your patient representatives on the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group Transforming Outpatients Project, we would be interested to hear your experiences when referred to the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals for any of the following specialties:
Orthopaedics
Rheumatology
Pain Management
Haematology
Under the project, it is now possible for your GP to contact a consultant for advice prior to any appointment and for a referral to a consultant to be done with any necessary diagnostic tests carried out prior to attendance at the hospital.
Other local hospitals and further specialties will be added to the project soon but in the meantime your feedback would be most welcome. It can be sent either via your GP surgery Patient Participation Group Chair or direct to us.
As your patient representatives on the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group Transforming Outpatients Project Board, we would be very interested to hear about your experiences when your GP has used the new Kinesis system for the above 4 specialties. We would particularly like to hear feedback for the following: What was good/bad? How long did it take for the GP to get back to you after you went to see him? Would you recommend the new system to friends and family? Was the whole experience what you expected?
Diane Raper
Melanie Randall
February 2015

6. The Big Question to PPG Chairs/Groups
Are you aware of the role your practice is playing in the Transforming Outpatients Department Project?
What more do you think PPGs can do to raise awareness for patients and get feedback?