When patients visit their GPs, they may already be feeling anxious about their health, so they might be naturally uncertain of a new system or technology being used. Patients may have a number of questions about how Cinapsis works, or how it will impact their care. Here are some of the most common concerns patients may raise, and how you can put their minds at ease:

Is it safe for my GP to take a photo of my mole/ skin lesion using their smartphone?
Understandably, if you’re using your smartphone to take a diagnostic image through Cinapsis, your patient may want to know where the image will be stored and who will have access to it.
While images are taken by connecting a dermatoscope or similar clinical-grade lens to your smartphone, they will never be stored on your personal device. Images can be transferred and accessed via the Cinapsis app or uploaded to the electronic patient record. This means only those involved in the patient’s care will have access to the image, and it will be used solely for diagnostic purposes.

Is my data secure with Cinapsis? How will my data be shared?
We adhere to the most stringent national data security and confidentiality standards. All data held or transmitted via Cinapsis is kept encrypted on the NHS Health and Social Care Network. This uses end-to-end encryption in accordance with NHS guidelines. The Cinapsis platform is GDPR and DSPT compliant, registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office, and meets the highest NHS Digital standards of security and patient confidentiality.

What is the benefit compared to the normal referral system?
Cinapsis helps to get patients into the right treatment service, more quickly. Using Cinapsis enables GPs to directly contact hospital specialists for advice and guidance on specific cases, where more specialised knowledge is needed. This guidance can then be shared in real-time via the same platform. Doctors are able to make more informed referral decisions, much sooner. Whilst normally, a patient may have to wait weeks or months to see a consultant, Cinapsis helps doctors to work together and decide on the best course of action, often instantaneously. Through more efficient, effective triage, Cinapsis reduces the number of people put on waiting lists unnecessarily, meaning those who need to be seen by a hospital specialist can be seen faster.

Will I still be seen by the right person?
If, using Cinapsis, it is decided that a patient does not need to be referred to secondary care, they may want to know why or insist on being seen by a specialist. It’s important to explain that Cinapsis does not stop them getting the treatment they need. On the contrary, it enables them to be reviewed by a specialist much sooner.
Rather than having to attend an in-person consultation, this can be done remotely, and the specialist’s advice sent directly to their GP. If a patient is not referred, it is because the specialist is certain they do not need to be urgently seen, and they can instead be sent to the most appropriate form of care for them - whether that is a service in the community or a specialist outpatient unit.  

Whilst it is natural to have questions about a new system, we hope that this information helps put patients at ease and aids them in understanding how Cinapsis works.