Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Social deprivation is high within our large ethnic and diabetes prevalent population. Compliance is a major stumbling block in the achievement of Blood Pressure (BP) targets. Given the above, we took the opportunity to enrol with West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) Florence (Flo) Exemplar project mobile phone texting service. Flo sends advice and collects patient information which clinicians can access through any device connected to the internet.

Aims: Our aims were to improve adherence to BP treatment via engaging and motivating patients and determine the clinical and cost effectiveness of this simple Telemedicine model.

Method and results: Of the 100 patients enrolled for BP management (April 2015–2016) from diabetes renal clinics:

• BP medications adjusted in 27/100 (27%).

• 46/100 (46%) patients were discharged with good BP control following medication adjustment.

Total outpatient attendances prevented: 107

• 45 (for those we continue to follow up)

• 62 (for those discharged)

This has saved £11 663 (national average £109 per OP attendance) simply from non-face to face BP management against a total cost of £2329 assuming 75% of the 107 patients have used the WMAHSN Hypertension CKD/diabetes protocol for the full 12 weeks (364 texts/patient, cost per patient £29.12 for the service).

Conclusion: Flo’s use continues to grow and 5 new teams are ready to join in our Trust. Thus, this clinically and cost effective model of care delivery (with high patient satisfaction) utilises manpower resources and healthcare professional time effectively to improve outcomes and can be easily replicated in any NHS Trust or CCG.