A&E departments throughout the UK are stretched, leading to poor affected person experiences and worse outcomes – however well being expertise might assist streamline affected person knowledge

In its seventy fifth yr, all of us have causes to be glad about the NHS. It’s no exaggeration to say that our mannequin of care is the envy of the world. The care you want, free of charge, wealthy or poor, is probably the most humane system on the earth. But this implies it’s additionally one of the crucial challenged techniques on the earth and, proper now, it’s straining under a huge amount of pressure.

A&E departments throughout the UK are stretched, which may end up in a poor expertise and worse outcomes for sufferers. Long waits to be seen by a medic are the obvious symptom of this stress.

The reply isn’t simply extra money and employees, though each will assist! We additionally should be serious about new methods of getting folks the care they want as shortly and effectively as attainable.

By “efficiently”, we’re not simply speaking about chopping prices. We’re speaking about eradicating pointless guide actions that don’t assist sufferers get the care they want, actions which may maintain issues up. No pointless steps equals faster care delivered extra cheaply.

Sending sufferers to the proper division with out problem

A terrific instance of that is what the NHS calls “GIRFT”: Getting It Right First Time. This means ensuring solely these sufferers who want to come back into hospital accomplish that and that they’re directed to the proper place first time spherical. So moderately than being assessed in A&E departments, we will attempt to ship the affected person to the proper division with out that step.

Technology is playing a key role in this “streamlining” in the NHS. Consultant Connect works by connecting medics with hospital consultants for speedy specialist recommendation. For instance, if a paramedic is known as out and wishes recommendation in regards to the subsequent step for his or her affected person, they’ll use Consultant Connect to talk to Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) specialists.

These specialists can advise whether or not the affected person must be delivered to hospital and, importantly, the place to take them: no pointless steps.

Health expertise ensures the paramedic’s name is answered shortly, on common in 18 seconds. It’s a easy service however it’s making a large distinction.

One in three sufferers keep away from pointless journeys to hospital with well being expertise

The knowledge is compelling. Paramedics utilizing Consultant Connect assist one in three sufferers keep away from pointless journeys to hospital. For sufferers that want hospital care, paramedics use the well being expertise to contact the pre-alert crew, permitting the hospital to arrange earlier than the affected person even arrives.

This means sufferers can bypass the queue and go straight to the suitable ward with no pointless evaluation steps. And after all there’s a knock-on influence as properly. We’ve seen the difficulties attributable to ambulance queues in hospitals.

Last June our Same Day Emergency Care strains had thrice as many calls final June as in the identical month in 2021 as ambulances tried to keep away from pointless affected person conveyances to A&E departments.

By lowering the variety of ambulance journeys, and serving to those who had been essential to keep away from A&E departments, Consultant Connect performed an element in ensuring ambulances weren’t tied up in queues and will reply to 999 calls. It didn’t remedy the issue, however it helped.

Rapid assessments, analysis and therapy at once

Our mission in NHS South East London ICB is a shining instance of this working in apply. What began as a small, 4 specialty mission in Greenwich feeding into Lewisham Hospital grew right into a mission the place paramedics have entry to recommendation and steering from over 50 NHS specialties.

The specialists could make fast assessments, analysis and therapy for sufferers and keep away from pointless delays. The expertise permits healthcare staff to ship the proper care in the proper place, first time.

This piece was written and offered by Jonathan Patrick, CEO Consultant Connect