CASE STUDY

This is a case study faced by a NHS Trust in the UK. Omnimedical were brought in as a solution and are now contracted out by the Trust to deliver services.

The Problem

1. Multiple secretary absentees.
2. Department of Health directives – 18 week targets, cancer targets.

Resulting in

1. Increased clinic activity.
2. Secretarial staff unable to meet demand – in one department, secretaries were falling behind by 3 clinics per week per secretary.
3. Increase in backlogs of secretarial work.
4. Wastage of resources due to increased utilisation of temporary staff.
5. Secretaries not working in teams.
    

The Solution

• Omnimedical recruited.
• Free trial for Trust to assess quality.
• OJEU tender won, 3 year contract signed.

Currently

• 300 clinicians using the service.
• 100 secretaries using the service.
• Annual cost to the Trust equates to the salaries of 9 medical secretaries.

Benefits to the Trust

1. Massive cost savings on temporary staff and secretarial salaries.
2. Reduced telephone bills – secretaries no longer telephone patients back as they have more time for in-coming calls.
3. Reduced postal costs – GP letters e mailed out.
4. Reduced GP letter turnaround time.
5. Improved service to GPs and patients.
6. No backlogs of clinical correspondence.
7. Secretaries now work in teams.
8. Retention of staff.