GPs in Greater Manchester gain rapid access to NHS specialists

General practitioners across Greater Manchester now have immediate access to specialist medical advice via a digital tool, as part of a region-wide rollout. Over 2,000 GPs in the area can contact NHS consultants anywhere in the UK for advice within 30 seconds on average, following the adoption of technology from telemedicine provider Consultant Connect. This move is intended to reduce waiting times and ease the burden on local hospitals.

Specialist advice access

The new service, commissioned by NHS Greater Manchester in collaboration with Consultant Connect, allows GPs to seek clinical guidance without the need for traditional referrals. Medical professionals can connect in real time with consultants via phone calls or secure messages through the system, including the ability to send secure images, to help inform whether a hospital appointment is necessary.

The solution leverages Consultant Connect's National Consultant Network, linking clinicians in Greater Manchester to specialists throughout the country. The strategy aims to free up local specialist capacity for patients who require hospital-based care, while improving community-based decision-making.

Elective care recovery

The rollout forms part of Greater Manchester's Elective Care Recovery Programmeme, which is focused on reducing waiting lists by enabling primary care teams to resolve more cases without hospital visits. The local approach aligns with wider NHS plans to increase digital solutions within healthcare delivery.

In pilot projects in Salford and Oldham, GPs sent over 62,600 calls and messages since 2020. Data from the pilots showed that more than half of all advice and guidance cases led to patients being managed in the community rather than being referred for hospital appointments. In total, more than 31,000 patients avoided unnecessary hospital visits during the pilot phase.

Data from pilots

Salford practices began using the service in November 2020. Since then, they have registered approximately 58,000 calls, with 97% of local practices participating. Nearly half of the patients involved in these contacts remained under community-based care. In Oldham, the initiative launched in November 2022, and 80% of patients in participating surgeries also avoided hospital visits as a result of the guidance provided.

Wider NHS integration

Consultant Connect's platform is now used in more than half of all NHS primary care settings across England, Scotland and Wales. It provides access to a network of over 11,000 consultants and claims coverage of around 45 million patients nationwide. The firm's figures show that more than two million calls and three million clinical images have been processed over the service to date.

GP feedback

"For a long time, we've wanted to make it easier for GPs and specialists to talk to each other. This pre-referral advice tool makes those conversations faster and more useful. Consultant Connect has been a great partner, and having access to specialists across the country helps us manage demand. As a GP, I can honestly say this is one of the most helpful digital tools I use, and I'm pleased every practice in Greater Manchester can now access it," said Dr John Patterson, GP, Associate Medical Director (Oldham) and Co-Chair Elective Care Recovery and Reform Board, NHS Greater Manchester.

Healthcare system impact

Consultant Connect's technology is cited as being in step with the NHS digital strategy, supporting moves to modernise the system and make specialist advice more accessible within primary care.

"We congratulate the Greater Manchester team for scaling fast and going live for all their GPs. Too often, health tech is implemented in a fragmented way. The Greater Manchester team is embracing technology at scale to keep patients out of hospital unnecessarily and take pressure off our healthcare system.

"It is very much in line with the 10 Year Forward Plan to modernise the NHS. Technology is just one part; in Greater Manchester, we have witnessed outstanding clinical leadership from local champions, such as John Patterson, who have brought technology to life.

"We are delighted that all Greater Manchester primary care clinicians now have specialist access at their fingertips, and that patients can get faster access to the best treatment plan," said Kat James, Joint-Managing Director, Consultant Connect.