More is being done to tackle patient handovers in the North East
A new scheme running at the QE in Gateshead could be lifesaving, after Metro Radio exclusively revealed too much time was being spent in ambulance queues.
QE Gateshead has joined forces with the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NEAS) to help improve patient flow, ambulance delays and turnaround times in the hospital’s Emergency Care Centre.
It comes after a Metro Radio investigation found that over 50 days’ worth of ambulance time was spent queuing outside North East A&E departments over a single month.
In March 2016, ambulance’s waited for more than 100 hours to handover patients at the QE, off the back of increased pressure over the winter period.
Shaun Robson has been appointed as the North East’s first paramedic coordinator and is responsible for ensuring patients arriving by ambulance at the QE’s Emergency Care Centre are promptly taken to be assessed in A&E.
A qualified nurse and paramedic, Shaun assesses, treats and triages patients then offers any necessary initial care in a dedicated ambulance hub escalation area, whilst an A&E bed becomes available for them. Alternatively, if appropriate, he redirects patients to suitable areas of the hospital for example, ambulatory care, the emergency assessment unit, the urgent care centre or to the A&E waiting area.
His role aims to improve patient waiting times by redirecting them to the most appropriate areas of treatment and also free the ambulance crew up so they can go to their next call as quickly as possible. He aims to have every ambulance patient handed over from the ambulance service within 15 minutes. He also provides a vital link between the QE and ambulance control to keep them informed of any early signs of pressures as well as crew availability.
Dale Healy, senior charge nurse at the QE’s Emergency Care Centre, said: “Winter is one of our most challenging times of the year in the A&E department and this new role will help to improve patient flow at the hospital, reduce ambulance handover delays and reduce delays in ambulances responding to their next emergency as well as ensuring patients are treated appropriately and as quickly as possible. Our ambulance handover is very good at the QE, one of the best in the region, however patient care is at the centre of all we do and we are always looking at ways we can improve a patient’s experience here.
“Shaun is on a secondment for six months and is a real asset to our team. We are all working together to help manage demand and ensure patients are assessed as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Deputy Chief Operating Officer at North East Ambulance Service, Victoria Court, added, “Keeping ambulances on the road is a high priority for us so that we have resources available to respond to patients in need. We work closely with our North East hospitals to hand patients over to them smoothly but when we are all under pressure from high demand, having someone dedicated to support us like this will be an enormous support.”
Shaun added: “I was delighted to be given the opportunity to come to the QE for this role. I am able to make a real difference in the A&E department by ensuring patients move through the system effectively and hospital beds are being used in the most appropriate ways - this not only improves their care, it also helps ambulance crews work more efficiently and ensures patients are redirected to the most appropriate areas for assessment and treatment, which reduces waiting times and delivers a better service the Gateshead community.