The Summer edition of Gastroenterology Today features two articles that demonstrate how capsule sponge testing can improve the clinical capacity of endoscopy teams.

Read the summary below or see the full publication on the Gastroenterology Today website.

Leicester Case Study

‍The Challenge

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) has transformed patient access to diagnostics for Barrett’s oesophagus through the roll out of a nurse-led capsule sponge testing pathway. Implementing capsule sponge testing has allowed them to cut gastroscopy waiting times, improve clinical capacity and deliver a better experience for both patients and clinical staff.

The team at UHL had an ambition to reduce wait times and improve survival chances for a lesser-known group of patients with Barrett’s oesophagus that affects around 1 million adults in Britain. However, the team were facing all-time high waits for gastroscopy and saturated 2-week wait pathways, placing these patients at increased risk of late diagnosis.

● Average patient wait time for this group: 6-12 months

● Number of staff able to perform the initial diagnostic test: 1

● Number of locations the initial diagnostic test was available from: 1

The Solution

Testing was undertaken by a range of clinical professionals from nurses to consultants – widening the possible delivery of the service - which provided the potential to reduce the wait associated with traditional endoscopist-led endoscopy procedures. The team also improved their triaging process for the test, adding electronic forms to improve the speed and accuracy of patient selection. Capsule sponge testing offered the opportunity for nurses to be upskilled, providing improved career pathways which the team felt would strengthen both their attraction and retention. By improving their capacity to deliver the service, and upskilling their team, the Trust was able to create a nurse-led clinic that could see more Barrett’s patients, more quickly.

“What started as two nurses with an idea has become a key part of our pathway and now my full time job! The training opportunity alone has helped position ourselves as an innovative service that people are excited to join. Our staff retention has improved and we’re already hiring for more as we plan to roll out capsule sponge testing for other patient groups, and look to GP referrals to reach even more people. Our vision is that in time, all patients for Barrett’s surveillance and investigation for GORD will be offered capsule sponge testing as a first line diagnostic procedure.” Vanessa deVivian, Capsule Sponge Lead Nurse Specialist

Key Findings

● 20 week reduction in patient waiting times.

● Increased capacity, with 3 staff able to perform the test. One dedicated full-time nurse and two other part-time.

● Testing now available to more sites across the Trust and expanding into community care.

● The early detection of Barrett’s oesophagus has helped to prevent the occurrence of oesophageal cancers.

● Positive impact on staff retention and acquisition, with colleagues expressing how valued they feel.

● Cost reduction of around 50% compared with gastroscopy, due to the different skill mix, setting and product.

The Trust’s nurse-led model demonstrates a clear way for other services to reduce the pressure on endoscopy teams, while still offering exciting training opportunities and autonomy to those that want to innovate. By expanding the deliverability of the testing, UHL is leading the way in developing cost-effective, nurse-led services that can provide better access, experience, and outcomes for patients.

For further details, or to discuss how Cyted Health can support your service in creating a capsule sponge pathway, please get in touch.

Managed Service Support

For Trusts that want to take advantage of the capacity boost that capsule sponge offers, but need extra workforce support, managed services company Xyla has put forward an example patient pathway featuring their insourced.

Read the full article here.