A&E departments are being issued new non-emergency care guidance to help them signpost patients as quickly as possible to the most appropriate service after a consultation with a senior clinician.
This will help A&E departments focus on patients who do have emergency care needs, and reduce the amount of time that those patients have to wait to receive treatment.
Under the plans, which are based on the model already in place in NHS Tayside, patients will be assessed by a senior clinician, and if their injury or illness does not require emergency treatment, the patient will be signposted to the most appropriate place for treatment, such as their GP, NHS 24 or out of hours clinic.
NHS Tayside’s successful system is in place at Ninewells and Perth Royal Infirmary, where they currently see around 80,000 patients each year in A&E.
After consultation with a senior clinician, around 4,000 patients each year are signposted to a different service for treatment.
The latest A&E figures show that 99.2 per cent of patients were seen within four hours in NHS Tayside in December 2013.
Examples could include patients seeking treatment for ingrown toenails, toothache or earache.
Speaking as he visited Ninewells Hospital in Dundee to see the system in action, Health Secretary Alex Neil said:
“This new guidance will make sure that all patients are getting the right treatment, in the right place and by the right clinicians. That not only helps the NHS meet demands, but it is better for patients as they get treated quicker.
“Our A&E departments provide a remarkable service, and day in day out they ensure those patients who have the most imminent need get access to the fastest possible treatment.
“This winter we’ve seen an improvement in A&E performance, supported by our £50 million unscheduled care action. But we want performance to continue to improve, which is why this new guidance is so important.
“This new policy builds on the best practice already in place in our NHS, and helps to signpost patients to a range of different NHS services, and ensure many patients receive faster treatment for minor ailments outwith A&E.
“I have visited NHS Tayside today to see how their model is already working, and how this approach has helped to their accident and emergency departments focus on those in need of emergency care.”
NHS Tayside Chief Executive Lesley McLay said:
“We are delighted to have the Cabinet Secretary here today to see our successful model in practice, which has now been adapted for use across the country.
“This system has helped NHS Tayside consistently meet and exceed A&E waiting times targets and become of one of the best performing mainland Boards in Scotland.
“Members of the public have always recognised that A&E is for those with genuine emergencies, however they are not always aware of what alternatives are out there. By having a senior clinician assess and redirect patients as necessary we can ensure that everyone receives the appropriate treatment.”
A report from the Primary Care Foundation in 2010 suggested that approximately 16 per cent of attendances to emergency departments would be more appropriately dealt with in primary care.
