INTER-HOSPITAL TRANSFERS

The second strand of work being led by the Revascularisation sub-group concerns reducing delays for in-patient DGH transfers requiring admission for Angiography +/- Angioplasty, Electrophysiology, Device implants or Surgery.

A Network wide approach was taken to make improvements in this area. An initial piece of work concerned the development of standardised referral and risk assessment tool for cardiology in-patient transfers. <CLICK HERE> to view the document.

The Network has also developed a web-based inter-hospital transfer system in conjunction with our software partners, Teleologic, for use across all NW London centres and for DGH's external to London who refer patients into the Network for in-patient procedures. This system is currently in use by 15 hospital sites providing both regular clinical and waiting time data across the whole of the Network and beyond. Please <CLICK HERE> to view the Web based Inter-Hospital Transfer User Guide.

Front Page of the NW London Inpatient Transfer System

The system is now being utilised for cardiac surgical referrals and additional development is currently underway to facilitate Electrophysiology referrals. To support and sustain these improvements, the Network appointed an IHT Co-ordinator in April 2006.

The improvements made in this complex area highlighted NW London, in a national IHT audit of waiting times, as one of the top performing Networks nationally.

For more information, please contact: Maria O'Brien - Director, NWLCN maria.o'brien@hillingdon.nhs.uk or Dr Iqbal Malik, (IHT Lead) i.malik@imperial.ac.uk

Please <CLICK HERE> to access further information about the Revascularisation sub-groups other work.

Further relevant information and reports are detailed below:

	Inter Hospital Transfer Improvement Story
	Inter Hospital Transfer PowerPoint Presentation
	Project Brief
	ACS Database PowerPoint Presentation - Dr Iqbal Malik
	Heart Improvement Programme - Web-based Referral Systems for IHT
	Improvement Story for Introduction of Anti-Platelet Cards - March 2007