Recent Case Studies
Client: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LTHTR)
Details
We began our initial relationship with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals in 2017, providing weekend endoscopy capacity. The service was procured as the Trust was under significant pressure to deliver against the cancer target and was failing the 6-week diagnostic target (DM01). The insourcing service was set up at pace and was flexible in allowing the Trust to adjust the additional capacity to meet requirements.
We are now in our seventh year of supporting the Trust, during which we have fulfilled our commitment to provide a high-quality, safe and flexible service in order to meet service demands. The service has also represented extremely good value for money, providing a cheaper alternative to other market options.
Summary
- 4-6 all-day endoscopy lists each weekend
- Lists run at multiple sites simultaneously
- A full range of diagnostic endoscopy procedures performed with targeted therapeutics, e.g., colonic polypectomy and EMR, tattoo placement and dye spray for Colitis surveillance
- All services provided by experienced JAG-accredited endoscopists with high-level performance data
- Only experienced endoscopy nurses and healthcare assistants provided
- Endoscopist back-fill cover provided for trust core lists during the week
- All lists booked appropriately to support trust backlog clearance
- Over 20,000 procedures performed to date, with excellent outcomes
- All activity and endoscopy reports are completed on Trust systems, enabling seamless integration of patient information
- All equipment used and maintained to trust standards
- Cost savings and high standards maintained by incorporating some experienced trust Staff in the service structure
- Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) lists also provided on request, both as a full ASL-managed service and weekday endoscopist-only backfill
With our support, the Trust was able to clear its backlog of patients and maintain its JAG accreditation status in 2019. We have also been able to provide the Trust with continued capacity to meet weekly demand and ensure ongoing compliance with all performance targets.
Throughout our time working with the Trust, we have maintained excellent working relationships with its management team. We communicate regularly to ensure satisfaction with our service provision from both a patient and Trust perspective.
The quality of the service has always been reported to be excellent in relation to patient feedback, patient safety, and list utilisation. We submit detailed 3-monthly patient feedback reports. The service also performs excellently in terms of endoscopy Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as Caecal Intubation Rate, Adenoma Detection Rate and Sedation use.
Testimonials
“The service was set up very quickly and was flexible allowing the Trust to adjust the additional capacity to meet demand.”
“In relation to performance, LTHT met their DM01 target which they had previously been failing. The ASL insourcing service also enabled suspected cancer patients to have their diagnostic test within seven days of the GP referral, and improved performance for the 62-day cancer performance and RTT pathways.”
“The quality of the service was reported to be excellent in relation to patient feedback, patient safety, list utilisation and endoscopy Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).”
“It enabled the Trust to use some of their own staff who knew the unit well. The unit and equipment were meticulously looked after to Trust standards. Also, the Trust did not have to pay a supernumerary member of staff to open/close the Unit as had been done previously.”
“All endoscopy reports were completed on the Trust’s endoscopy system which allowed seamless integration of patient information.”
"The service represented extremely good value for money - substantially cheaper than other services - it covered all of the Trust’s costs and even generated a modest return.”
“To date, we have seen that waiting times have reduced significantly, endoscopic procedure completion rates have been high, there have been no safety or quality concerns, and patient satisfaction is also very high. The Alimentary Solutions business model has enabled us to secure clinicians of the highest standard for our patients on a very flexible basis and at rates which represent the best value for money in the market.”
“I have found the service provided by Alimentary Solutions to be highly professional and catered to the needs of the Trust. There has been a constant flow of communication, including the provision of KPI and feedback data, which meant that I am always confident in the quality of service provided. I was especially pleased that I was able to develop a good working relationship with their management team. This meant that our service was able to gain flexibility when required, for example, the increase from 4 to 6 all-day lists each weekend in order expedite our backlog clearance”.
“As the Clinical Business Manager for Endoscopy Services I would be delighted to provide you with this acknowledgement of the professional, safe, and efficient service you deliver for the Trust and importantly the Endoscopy Service at this hospital. We have procured your Service as an insource provision for several years now and I would like to commend you and your team for the ability to deliver the contracted service without incident or complication since commencement in 2017. The delivery of the insourced service is both reliable, efficient and has always met and exceeded your contractual requirements. Your delivery has always been flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the Endoscopy service, you and your leadership team ensure you are always available communicating as ultimate professionals. The patient satisfaction surveys and compliments are outstanding with only 3 very minor complaints since commencement in 2017 which were responded to within Trust policy and timeframe and to the patient and Trusts satisfaction. During the last two years as we return to a new normal, you have flexed your service offer to meet the needs of a very changing NHS service and have supported the operational team above and beyond the procured contract. Due to the excellent service delivered and in the way in which your leadership sustains a very successful insourced service, we will continue to procure your services. We would have no hesitation in recommending Alimentary Solutions to other NHS Trusts.”
Client: Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (L&SC ICB)
Details
We delivered a GP Direct Access gastroscopy service to patients in West Lancashire initially commissioned by West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), later transferred under Lancashire & South Cumbria ICB.
The service ceased towards the end of our contract as we moved to a purpose-built community diagnostic facility in Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley. A detailed exit plan was proposed and accepted, ensuring all contractual obligations were met.
Summary
- Services delivered out of a community health centre in Skelmersdale
- GP bookable on e-RS, wait time ~ 1 week
- All gastroscopies done under local anaesthetic throat spray only (no sedation)
- Consultant Gastroenterologist-delivered procedures
- 1,160 procedures done with consistently >97% unsedated OGD Completion Rate and exceptional patient feedback (consistently rated 5-Star on NHS Choices)
- Advice and Guidance given to every patient to help manage their symptoms and minimise the need for Secondary Care referral
- No complaints Received
- All histology results reported on, and appropriate surveillance arranged within the service
- All reports and images saved within EMIS – immediate GP access to results and recommendations
Feedback
Please view the NHS Choices feedback we received for our services at the link below.
Need More Information?
We are happy to answer any enquiries about our insourced and outsourced endoscopy services.