Pioneering ENT software to improve throat cancer diagnosis
Patients referred for ENT throat investigations are set to receive faster diagnosis and treatment thanks to the use of pioneering new software in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinics. Use of the software will ensure every patient receives a consultant review but that consultant face-to-face appointments are reserved for patients most at risk. It will also help to reduce strain on NHS services by enabling the streamlining of processes and make patient appointments safer because investigations will be carried out in a physically distanced manner.
Clinicians in the ‘hoarse voice clinic’, where patients present with potential symptoms of throat cancer, will enter symptoms into a nationally used risk calculator where patients are then scored as potentially low or high-risk. A high resolution double-encrypted iPhone camera will be used to record images during a patient’s endoscopy procedure and the images will be shared via the device using the software, enabling quicker analysis and therefore a better prognosis for patients. An ENT consultant will be able to pick up referrals using a secure trust iPad, even if they are working remotely, and results will be sent to both the patient and their GP immediately.
Mr Ajith George, consultant ENT surgeon, said: “The amount of referrals we receive has increased since the Covid outbreak as many patients only have telephone a ppointments and are subsequently referred. The new software will help us to provide better care for our patients. Historically, the hoarse voice clinic was performed by all nine ENT consultants at the trust due to the volume of patients being referred, but despite this we still didn’t have the capacity to meet the demand and additional costly clinics had to be set up. This new system will reduce the level of strain on the NHS because pathways will be more streamlined.
“We have now recruited a nurse practitioner who is qualified to conduct endoscopies and registrars will also perform the procedures. Patient footage will be sent to consultants for review within 48 hours and they will give feedback to the patient by means of a letter which is generated by the software and personalised to the patient. This letter might include appropriate images which can be also be kept on patient’s personal files and sent to their mobile phones. The feedback is also sent to the patient’s GP and the patient receives a text. All of this means people’s minds can be put at ease more quickly. The consultant’s time can be dedicated to the patients most at risk, meaning they can see high risk patients face to face. Everything is conducted in as safe a manner as possible.
“I will be able to see four times as many people by means of the videos than I’d be able to see face-to-face. It makes the whole process safer and slicker but we are still able to maintain high standards of care.”
There are also plans to streamline the service further by carrying out endoscopies in the community, which will involve referrals being sent direct to consultants.
The system was launched at the end of November and will run on a pilot basis for six months.