Enhancing Patient Outcomes and Supporting Mental Health Through Diagnostics

I am Riddhi Karia, currently working as a Care Pathway Specialist for the Midlands. With a clinical background as a registered mental health nurse, I’ve gained diverse experience across eating disorders, forensic mental health, elderly, brain injury, and acute psychiatry. My journey from a Deputy Hospital Director, managing site development from construction to operation, has helped me understand how to leverage NHS Supply Chain’s capabilities to enhance patient outcomes.

World Patient Safety Day underscores the importance of precise diagnostics in healthcare. This year’s theme ‘Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety’, aligns with our mission at NHS Supply Chain. We extend our focus beyond procurement, emphasising innovative strategies like Value Based Procurement (VBP) to enhance patient outcomes.

Our Commitment to Patient Safety and Diagnostic Accuracy

As we observe World Patient Safety Day we reaffirm our dedication to ensuring all patients receive timely and accurate diagnoses. Through continuous innovation and a dedicated focus on patient-centred procurement, NHS Supply Chain supports the NHS in achieving its goal of safe, effective, and compassionate care across all service areas.

Addressing Mental Health Stigma and Barriers to Diagnosis Access for Patients with Mental Illness and Neurodiversity

Mental health and learning disability patients frequently encounter significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Stigma can delay or deter individuals from seeking help, often exacerbating conditions until they become severe. Additionally, a prevalent issue such as needle phobia significantly impacts timely care, with a substantial portion of the population avoiding essential medical treatments due to fear of needles. 

• The charity Anxiety UK estimates that up to 10% of UK adults have some degree of needle phobia.
• A large-scale study by Oxford University, involving over 15,000 UK adults, found that needle phobia accounts for approximately 10% of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
• The NHS states that needle phobia affects about 1 in 10 people.

This avoidance can lead to severe health repercussions. Many general healthcare professionals lack the training to effectively recommend mental health resources, leading to under diagnosis or misdiagnosis. These individuals are at a higher risk of poor health outcomes and often have a reduced lifespan due to these systemic challenges.

Impact of Diagnostic Delays on Mental Health:

The consequences of delayed diagnostics or accessing the relevant care and assessments are profound, especially long term for individuals’ mental health. Delays in accessing appropriate clinical assessments or care can lead to exacerbation of physical symptoms resulting in a manifestation of negative mental health issues, further deteriorating their quality of life. For example, someone with undiagnosed chronic pain might experience significant mental health issues. Physical chronic pain resulting in reduced mobility, long term sickness resulting in being unable to work, driving financial stress, problems sleeping and increased social isolation, all a result of the stress and uncertainty caused by their undiagnosed condition. Long waiting lists not only exacerbate anxiety and uncertainty but can also lead patients to seek help through inappropriate channels like emergency services or multiple GP visits. This inefficiency often fails to address the root health issues, leading to a deterioration of a patient’s overall health and well-being. 

 
Innovative Diagnostic Approaches

At NHS Supply Chain we align our efforts with the NHS operational planning guidance for 2024 and 2025, aiming for 95% of patients to receive diagnostic tests within six weeks. This target is vital for early detection and treatment, particularly in mental health, where timely intervention can significantly alter outcomes. Our approach includes less invasive, efficient diagnostic techniques such as Trans-nasal Endoscopy VBP. This method not only enhances patient comfort and reduces procedure time but also exemplifies how our VBP initiatives directly improve patient experience and outcomes. Value Based Procurement enhances efficiency and ensures better patient outcomes by focusing on the value each product and service brings to patient care. This strategy supports the financial sustainability of the NHS and ensures that care pathways are more responsive, effective, and tailored to patient needs.

Conclusion

As we mark World Patient Safety Day, NHS Supply Chain is proud to advance healthcare diagnostics and patient safety through strategic procurement and innovative practices. By aligning our procurement strategies with the latest in medical innovation and patient care standards, we are committed to helping shape a healthcare system that is not only efficient but also deeply responsive to the needs of all patients, fostering a safer, healthier future for everyone.

Appendix:

1. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, 2024. Needle phobia and overcoming your fear. [online] Available at: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/needle-phobia-and-overcoming-your-fear [Accessed 19 July 2024].
2. University of Oxford, 2021. Treating Needle Fears May Reduce COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Rates by 10%. [online] Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-06-16-treating-needle-fears-may-reduce-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy-rates-10 [Accessed 19 July 2024].
3. Anxiety UK, n.d. Injection Phobia. [online] Available at: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/anxiety-type/injection-phobia/ [Accessed 19 July 2024].