How Cinapsis has helped over 34,060 patients in just 12 months

Since Covid-19 there has been a significant increase in the number of GP referrals to NHS dermatology services for both urgent suspected cancer referrals and routine referrals (eg. psoriasis, eczema, acne). Many NHS services use an ‘appointment first’ approach that directly booking patients into outpatient appointment with specialists to review their case. 

Solution

However, a significant proportion of patients could be triaged virtually by specialists if they had the correct information and images. By using the secure and intuitive platform of Cinapsis, specialists can rapidly review the referral, and either advise the GP or referring clinician on management of the condition or book them into an outpatient appointment. Cinapsis is trusted by 7 ICB regions to deliver tele-dermatology. 

How it works

Using the Cinapsis app, GPs can directly contact Dermatology Consultants for advice and guidance when reviewing a patient’s skin concern sharing images via the platform. The Consultant can give advice and opinion to help decide whether they need to see the patient in clinic or if they can be treated in primary care. Cinapsis provides a secure platform for GPs to share images of their patient’s skin or suspicious skin lesion. If the Consultant wants to discuss the patient’s case further with the GP, they can use the messaging function or transition to video or telephone call

By rapidly triaging, many cases can be resolved without needing face-to-face appointments, including 2-week wait referrals by viewing secure images prior to booking an outpatient appointment. The templates ensure that mandatory questions are answered so that referrals are not missing vital information hugely improving productivity and most importantly patient care. 

Impact 

• In the Black Country ICB region prior to the use of Cinapsis for routine referral the average wait was six-months wait and that has been reduced to six weeks. 

• Across 86 practices in North Norfolk Primary Care, the Cinapsis platform has reduced the number of unnecessary referrals for dermatology, reducing by almost 80%. Whilst reducing wait times for specialist advice from 50 weeks to two days. 

• In Gloucestershire as 100% of 2-week cancer referrals underwent image triage prior to an appointment this led to 70% of dermatology referrals being managed without a face to face or through a virtual hospital appointment. 

• In Cheshire & Merseyside since the roll-out of Cinapsis technology 49% of cases are successfully managed with advice and guidance alone.  

• For more see BBC news item 

• Within Mid and South Essex, Cinapsis provides the referral management system for their dermatology service and in the last 12 months (Nov 24-Oct 25) the case volume was 37,664. 

Within the Frimley ICB geography, there is a partnership with Xyla whose Consultant Dermatologists provided remote assessment of routine referrals through their medial photography clinic, using the Cinapsis platform to manage this pathway.

• 40% reduction in 2-week wait referrals being sent to secondary care
• 40% of overall referrals managed within community clinics or by their GP. 
• In the past 12 months, Cinapsis has helped 34,060 patients (Nov 24-Oct 25).

 Reported Outcomes across all NHS sites 

• Releasing clinical capacity so that patients with more urgent conditions can be treated sooner by specialist dermatology services.
• Educating and support GPs with treatment of common conditions and understanding fully the Consultant’s rationale behind their diagnosis. 
• Using the simple communication channels can greatly improve relationships with clinicians in Primary Care. 

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