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Secretaries and Correspondence
⏰ Current Delays
Routine Lexacom dictations are currently running 3 weeks behind schedule. Clinic letters normally take a couple of weeks to type. Patients receive a text message when their letter is ready.
📝 Sending Dictations & Referrals
Safety & Prioritization
Staff must write the referral specialty in the ‘Recipient’ box on Lexacom to assist prioritization and safety.
Referrals sent as ‘Urgent’ dictations are processed as urgent priority, even if ‘Routine’ is ticked on the referral form.
💡 Speeding up Routine Referrals
To prioritize a routine referral needing quick turnaround:
- Add a note in the Lexacom Recipient box
- Send a task or screen message to the secretarial team
🔍 Chasing Correspondence
👥 Patient Responsibility
Patients should be asked to chase their own referrals and appointments due to administrative hold times.
Chasing Clinic Letters
- Task the correspondence team first to check receipt
- Only involve the secretarial team after the correspondence team has checked
⏳ Current Waiting Times
⚠️ Gastroenterology Anomaly
The Gastroenterology urgent waiting list (18 months) is currently longer than the routine waiting list (14 months).
| Specialty / Test | Urgency / Type | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Adult ADHD (Wigan Team) | Referral | > 7 years |
| Adult ADHD (RTC) | Referral | 3+ years — see ADHD & ASD page |
| Respiratory | Urgent Referral | > 12 months |
| Gastroenterology | Urgent Referral | 18 months |
| Gastroenterology | Routine Referral | 14 months |
| ECG 24-hour | Results | 12 weeks |
⚡ Urgent Action Protocols
Urgent CXR
🫁 Same Day X-Ray
Urgent CXR patients can attend TLC or Leigh the same day.
- Morning: 8:30am - 11:30am
- Afternoon: 2:00pm - 4:30pm
PIU Referrals
🩸 Urgent Criteria
PIU urgent referrals with Hb under 80 should be tried within 1 week.
👩⚕️ Staffing & Pathways
| Staff Member | Role | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Vicky Howarth | Secretary | Tue-Thu 09:00-18:00, Fri 09:00-14:00 |
🧠 Paediatric Pathway Change
Community Paeds ASD referrals now go through Neuro Dev. This means sooner MDT reviews prior to seeing the consultant.