P107 - GETTING TO THE GUT OF THE PROBLEM - THE IMPACT OF DIETETICS IN A GASTROENTEROLOGY AMBULATORY HUB – SERVICE EVALUATION.

P107

GETTING TO THE GUT OF THE PROBLEM - THE IMPACT OF DIETETICS IN A GASTROENTEROLOGY AMBULATORY HUB – SERVICE EVALUATION.

C. McColgan^1,*, J. Addley¹

¹Gastroenterology, Ulster Hospital, Belfast, United Kingdom

Rationale: Within the South Eastern Trust, speciality specific rapid access hubs were introduced to provide same day/same week specialty care in 2018. The Gastroenterology hub have access to a Dietitian providing patients with immediate specialist nutritional advice as well as oral/enteral nutrition support. Dietetics offered a 5 day service parallel to the rapid access medical/nurse led clinics.The aim was to assess the impact of Dietetic services within an ambulatory setting over 2 years from April 2021 to March 2023.

Methods: Impact was assessed via quantitative and qualitative methods which were patient feedback questionnaires and dietetic outcome measures to evaluate patient and service outcomes.

Results: In the 2 years, 25-30% of all new referrals to the hub required dietetic input. Across the 2 years >90% of dietetic outcomes were achieved or partially achieved. It was found; 100% of patients required condition related diet advice, 63% required nutritional support and 70% required advice on bowel function. In 2022/23 in a patient feedback survey (n= 245) 75% of patients reported an improved ability to manage their diet, 94% of patient found a benefit from a multi-disciplinary (MDT) approach and 100% of users (n= 245) would recommend this service. In addition between October 2021-Sept 2022; 6 patients had their enteral feeding care managed via the hub under the Dietitian and MDT which 6 avoided admissions, saved 207 bed days and an estimated cost saving of £72,450.

Conclusion: Dietitians within a MDT rapid access ambulatory hub service can have an integral role, this can in turn save bed days and associated costs. Since completing this evaluation Dietitians have gained non-supplementary prescribing qualifications therefore further research is needed to understand the value and impact Dietitians with this addition skills can have on patient, service and MDT outcomes.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared