title: A helpline for patients with chronic dermatological conditions.
abstract: A telephone line was set up for patients with chronic dermatological diseases in response to patients' concerns about having a point of contact for advice and for more appropriate and timely access to care when they needed to be seen. The aims were firstly to improve the quality of care and empower patients by providing advice and support with a safety net for those discharged from the authors' service. The second aim was to increase efficiency by reducing unnecessary return appointments. An audit was undertaken to evaluate the telephone service. This showed that patients were reassured that they could access the service according to their needs. There was a high level of satisfaction with the initiative and the advice received. The data also showed that there was a significant improvement in the ratio of new outpatient slots to return appointment slots and waiting times for a first appointment.
authors.affiliation: Addenbrooke's NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*