New mobile unit to help reduce ambulance waiting times at Treliske
It means patients with non life-threatening conditions can be cared for outside the emergency department
Last updated 30th Mar 2022
A new temporary mobile handover unit is going to help ease ambulance wait times at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.
The unit, which is located outside the emergency department, is designed for patients with non life-threatening conditions who are taken to Treliske by ambulance.
Up to five patients can now be treated in the handover unit at a time until they can be admitted to the emergency department and handed over into the care of hospital staff, or discharged home.
Bosses say it means ambulance crews can get back out on the road to help other patients.
We are told the new unit is in response to the continuing operational pressures across health and care services.
NHS Kernow, Royal Cornwall Hospitals and the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust have released a joint statement.
It reads: “As part of our response to the continuing operational pressures across Cornwall’s health and care services, NHS Kernow, Royal Cornwall Hospitals, and the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust have deployed a Temporary Ambulance Handover Unit at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals in Truro.
“The mobile unit is for patients with non-life-threatening conditions, who are still under the care of the ambulance service, and will enable ambulance crews to get back out on the road to care for other patients.
“Patients with urgent but not life threatening conditions can access convenient care by calling 111 or go online at 111.nhs.uk, after considering first if they can wait to see their own GP or get advice from a pharmacy.”