Highlighting women’s health issues and priorities, National Women’s Health Week aims to encourage women to prioritise their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The main physical health issues that women in the UK face are cancers, gynaecological and menstrual conditions, fertility and pregnancy complications, menopause, and mental health. That’s why we’re showcasing how our Enhanced Advice & Guidance (A&G) service is supporting the NHS across the UK to get faster advice, improving patient care for women:
Gynaecological cancer
A paramedic in Wales used Telephone Advice & Guidance via Consultant Connect to deliver a footling breech baby:
‘We decided that the safest thing to do for the mother and baby was to proceed with delivery. I used the Consultant Connect App to speak with a midwife who talked us through the delivery. When the baby was born, it was in cardiac arrest, but was fortunately resuscitated and conveyed to hospital in the ambulance that had arrived. Not long after, I spoke with the consultant and learned that both the mother and baby had recovered well. If I hadn’t been able to contact the midwife for delivery support via Consultant Connect, we would’ve been looking at a very different outcome.’
– Chris Ferris.
Menstrual conditions
A GP in NHS Lanarkshire used Telephone Prof-to-Prof Advice via Consultant Connect to seek rapid specialist input for a patient who was experiencing menorrhagia and whose results indicated anaemia:
‘Given the degree of anaemia, I wondered if she might need an admission for a transfusion. Upon speaking with the gynaecologist, she advised that iron tablets should be sufficient as the patient was relatively asymptomatic and not keen for admission. We also discussed the treatment the patient had tried for menorrhagia previously, and we developed an alternative plan. The consultant arranged for the patient to be seen in her clinic. The patient was delighted with the specialist advice and the fact that she received advice for her condition via me.’
– Dr Elizabeth Peak.
Pregnancy-related conditions
A GP in North Central London ICB used Telephone A&G to discuss an antenatal patient whose midwife suggested she discuss starting Acyclovir Prophylaxis in the late stages of her pregnancy due to a history of recurrent genital herpes:
‘When I saw the patient, she was well with no symptoms of genital herpes, so I decided to make a call via Consultant Connect to discuss the case with a consultant gynaecologist. The call was very useful as they advised me that this guidance had recently changed. The patient was very satisfied that the recommended management plan, to prescribe the medication, came from a consultant who was aware of the new guidance. The patient felt reassured by the consultant’s specialist opinion and safer taking the medication following the call.’
– Dr Edwina Akerele.
Interested in setting up a Consultant Connect A&G service? To find out more, please email us at hello@consultantconnect.org.uk or call us on 01865 951 207.
Related materials:
- How Consultant Connect supported a WAST paramedic in saving the lives of a mother and her newborn baby
- NHS Lanarkshire Prof-to-Prof Advice GP case study
- GP case study in North Central London ICB: Gynaecology and Neurology
- Health Matters: 30-50% of gynaecology referrals don’t need a hospital admission
- Femtech World: UK’s gynaecology care crisis – RCOG calls for urgent government funding
