News | DMC Healthcare Recognised at QIC Dermatology Awards for Reducing Waiting Times and Improving Patient Care in Lincolnshire
The Collaborative Impact of Lincolnshire ICB-ULHT-DMC Healthcare Partnership on Reducing Patient Waiting Lists in Lincolnshire Dermatology Post-COVID Recovery
We are proud to announce that DMC Healthcare, alongside Lincolnshire ICB and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT), has received the Commended Award at the 2024 Quality in Care (QiC) Dermatology Awards. This recognises our joint efforts to improve care for patients with skin conditions by reducing waiting times in Lincolnshire.
Judges' Comments
“DMC Healthcare’s work really streamlined referrals and reduced waiting times overall. It was an excellent entry, and impressed with the collaboration between so many stakeholders. It had nearly 8,000 patients and showed a 58% reduction in waiting, truly impressive. It was a brilliant idea and impressive in what it achieved.”
QIC Dermatology Award Judge
Collaborative Success
Due to the impact of Covid-19, the Dermatology waiting list surged to nearly 8000 patients, with wait times exceeding 100 weeks. In response, Lincolnshire ICB and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) established the Lincolnshire EACH (Elective Activity Coordination Hub) team to validate the entire waiting list, while DMC Healthcare provided crucial support for almost 3000 patients confirmed for treatment.
“Since 2017, we’ve been dedicated to enhancing dermatology services across Lincolnshire, with particular focus on the rural and coastal areas. Our collaboration with United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which began in 2022, was aimed at addressing the escalating waiting lists exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
DMC Healthcare was fully prepared and ready to step in. Our highly skilled dermatology multidisciplinary team, equipped with the necessary capacity and expertise, played a pivotal role in reducing waiting times and ensuring a smooth, high-quality experience for our patients.
This award reflects the success of our joint efforts and the readiness of our team. We are proud of what we’ve achieved and remain committed to continuing our work to improve patient care.”
Dr Sanjiv Agarwal, Dermatology Clinical Lead, DMC Healthcare
Innovative Solutions
Together, we launched dermatology clinics at Grantham Hospital in April 2022. The EACH team proactively validated waiting lists, while DMC Healthcare provided consistent care despite staff shortages. Regular data collection on patient visits, recalls, and biopsies ensured smooth, informed service delivery, highlighting the importance of continuity in care.
“We chose DMC as a partner because we have an established relationship and they have an interest in Lincolnshire already. They have proven to be a good provider and have delivered services in the rural areas successfully for a considerable time.
We had good communication prior to starting this waiting list initiative. The previous service was quite limited and set within boundaries. When we started talking about this as an option, DMC was flexible and proactively offered to work with us. We continue to have a very open dialogue and DMC are very approachable. ”
Karen Byfield, Head of Contracts, Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board
Long-Term Impact
Our partnership’s success not only reduced waiting times by 58% but also set the stage for continued collaboration. This project serves as a model for future initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery across multiple specialities, with plans for wider implementation.
“DMC’s work in Lincolnshire is an excellent demonstration of how to manage long-waiting patients on the routine dermatology waiting list.”
Dr Julia Schofield MBE, Associate Professor University of Hertfordshire, Consultant Dermatologist United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Dermatology Clinical Lead NHS England Outpatient Recovery and Transformation Programme
