East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has achieved a 27% reduction in consultation times for day surgery patients by introducing a new digital approach to managing its perioperative pathway.
The trust has implemented a waiting list tool developed by Graphnet Health, which integrates surgical waiting list data with GP records to automatically stratify patients by risk. This has turned a static waiting list into an active clinical tool, enabling clinicians to identify low-risk patients who can be booked quickly and confidently, while high-risk patients are directed to the right care earlier.
The result has been shorter appointments, improved patient flow, and more efficient use of clinical time. The reduction in consultation times has freed capacity across the service, allowing more patients to be seen promptly and reducing the likelihood of last-minute postponements of surgery or on-the-day cancellations.
Dr Simon Rang, Consultant Anaesthetist and Lead for Perioperative Medicine at East Kent, said: “Many patients haven’t seen a GP for many months or even a year before arriving at pre-op before surgery. For some, we’re their first medical contact in a long time, and we have to be ready. The dashboard gives us that early warning - we can see who is low-risk and who needs extra support - and individualise their care. In pre-operative assessment we traditionally have offered the same pre-op workup to everyone, and it’s now very clear that one size doesn’t fit all”
The new approach has also strengthened collaboration with local services. The trust’s health and lifestyle advisory service, run jointly by the Community Trust and Kent County Council, now uses the tool to identify patients who could benefit from lifestyle support such as smoking cessation, physical fitness, or weight management. Patients themselves are responding positively, with some taking action to improve their lifestyle even before being contacted.
Dr Rang added: “There is always more progress to be made, but this has already made a big difference. Consultation times are down, patients are better prepared, and we’re building a more proactive, collaborative pathway.”
The East Kent approach forms part of the wider Combined Intelligence for Population Health Action (CIPHA) programme, which is enabling 11 Integrated Care Systems across the NHS to use joined-up data to improve efficiency, reduce inequalities, and deliver better outcomes for patients.
