Team King’s announced as runner up in the 2024 HTN awards
11 April 2024 - The endoscopy team at the PRUH have been recognised for their work to speed up patient waiting times.
The endoscopy service at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), part of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded runner up in the national 2024 Health Tech News (HTN) awards for Excellence in Digital Pathways. The commendation recognises the team’s work to roll out a new reminder service for patients, which has helped reduce waiting times for colonoscopy procedures. This involves a series of text messages sent to patients, reminding them of their upcoming appointment and the pre-procedure bowel preparation instructions.
Colonoscopies are procedures where the large intestine is examined using an endoscope – a long, thin, flexible tube with a light source and a video camera at one end. They are often used to help in the diagnosis of colon cancer and other bowel conditions. At the PRUH, around 8,500 colonoscopy procedures are carried out every year – equivalent to more than 23 procedures every day.
Dr Mayur Kumar, Consultant Gastroenterologist at the PRUH, said: “Ahead of a colonoscopy, patients need to prepare for the procedure by stopping certain types of medication, following a low residue diet, and taking bowel preparation solutions at the right time. Unfortunately, many of our patients were missing out on some of these essential steps ahead of their appointments, leading to delays in their treatment and longer waiting times for other patients.
“Thanks to a grant from NHS Digital, we provided our colonoscopy patients at both King’s College Hospital and the PRUH with clear guidance on preparing for their appointment with a series of SMS reminders with video links. This has greatly reduced the number of patients arriving for treatment unprepared, ensuring that each appointment slot we have is utilised effectively at our hospitals.”
The SMS system updates patients before their appointment and includes detailed video instructions, ensuring they are well-prepared for their colonoscopy. Further reminders are sent 24 hours before the appointment, scheduled per the patient’s procedure time, to reinforce the importance of following the pre-procedure instructions accurately.
Dr Mayur Kumar added: “This new system means that our patients feel fully informed and well-prepared when arriving for their colonoscopy, which has brought down the number of pre-assessment appointments needed by patients. Many more patients are happier and healthier as a result, making the entire patient journey much smoother. Moving away from a paper-based process is also an easy and straightforward way to reduce our environmental impact, cutting down on carbon emissions.“