Optum/NWL ICB

ID 369

NWL ICB is now looking to support GP practices across the sector to develop a diagnostic tool that are efficient at identifying when patients are experiencing somatic symptoms in order to refer them to social prescribing.

People with somatic symptom disorder are often unaware of their underlying mental health condition and believe that they have serious physical ailments. The lack of diagnosis often causes them to visit multiple healthcare providers and to have many medical tests and unnecessary procedures, leading to further distress and anxiety regarding their condition. Furthermore, lack of diagnosis may leave patients with unmet psychological, emotional or social needs that continue to deteriorate and manifest in physical symptoms. By developing tools that can assist in the diagnosis of somatisation, GP surgeries can provide and support patients with wider welfare services to meet their needs and improve their wellbeing. Not only does this save time and resources, but it enables possible successful treatment and care for these patients. Furthermore, by diagnosing patients as somatic and putting them on a pathway more suited for their needs, those patients on waiting lists can move up the line and receive treatment in a more timely manner. Not understanding or being able to treat somatic symptoms can lead to: • Multiple health care contacts – GP, A&E, Outpatients • Unnecessary volume of lab tests; • Repeated hospitalisations; • Prescribed drug misuse; • Poor doctor-patient relationship; and • Dependence on health care system for social support. In terms of benefits for the patients, the project is looking at: Primary outcome: • Rapid accurate diagnosis of psychological cause for presentation. • Improve patients access to a health care professional, who is the best placed to support patients with psychological, emotional and social health concerns, in a way that is holistic. Secondary outcomes: Improved access to social prescribers and wider multi-disciplinary team working • Lower referral rates for investigations • Lower referral rates for outpatient services Version 4.0 – April 2023 Page 5 of 24 • Patient satisfaction • Health professional satisfaction • Increased use of patient psychological support services • more rapid achievement of correct diagnosis and appropriate support for the patient / person.

21/09/2023

TRE