How we do it : Cost-benefit analysis of implementing a telephone review system in an ENT outpatient setting

Keypoints • There is an increasing pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) hospital consultants to reduce the waiting times. • We have used an optional telephone review for a certain number of our outpatients so as to reduce the need for their in-person attendance. • The result of our study, which was conducted in two phases, showed that almost half of the telephone follow-up patients (48%) were discharged over the phone. There was a direct saving of approximately £30 per patient having a telephone follow-up.