Summary
Based on experiences during Winter 2014/2015, the NHS will encounter a winter crisis in 2015/16. NHS organisations need to plan and act on solutions to help prevent this problem. This NHS Confederation report assembles guidance and recommendations, with examples of new emergency care models. The Urgent and Emergency Care Forum assesses progress, one-year on, in the implementation of the Urgent and Emergency Care Review.
Reference
Rip off the sticking plaster now: enabling the local implementation of sustainable urgent and emergency care models in 2015/16. London: NHS Confederation; Urgent and Emergency Care Forum, April 21st 2015.
EMS Roles and Functions in Caring for OPWD (Emergency Medicine Journal)
Emergency ambulance crews increasingly encounter older people with dementia (OPWD) and encounter difficulties in history taking, pain assessment and accessing alternatives to emergency hospital admission (especially out of hours). This literature review examined the role(s) of emergency medical services (EMS) in the urgent and emergency care of OPWD. This review highlights a gap in research and in the published literature. The authors call for more collaborative (cross-disciplinary) research involving the EMS and dementia care disciplines.
Full Text Link (Note: This requires a suitable Athens password, a journal subscription or payment for access).
Reference
Buswell, M. Martin, S. [and] Lee, C. [et al]. (2015). Unplanned, urgent and emergency care: what are the roles EMS provide for older people with dementia? A literature review and narrative synthesis. (P009). Emergency Medicine Journal. May 2015; 32(5): e4.
Improvements to GP and Community Care for Worried Parents
Worried parents inadvertently place unnecessary pressure on A&E departments because they are unsure how to get more appropriate care for their children from community-based services, according to a guideline / standard from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College General Practice (RCGP).
Reference
Worried parents ‘put pressure on A&E’. London: BBC Health News, April 29th 2015.
This relates to:
Facing the future: together for child health 2015. London: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), Royal College of Nursing [and] Royal College General Practice (RCGP), April 10th 2015.
Possibly of interest:
Reference
Facing the future: standards for acute general paediatric services. Revised 2015. London: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), April 10th 2015.
Possibly of interest:
Reference
Kantonen, J. Lloyd, R. Mattila, J. Kauppila, T. Menezes, R. (2015). Impact of an ABCDE team triage process combined with public guidance on the division of work in an emergency department. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. May 13th 2015: 1-8. [Epub ahead of print].
Ethnicity and Pre-Hospital Emergency Care
This following briefing paper, from the Race Equality Foundation, identifies barriers (and facilitators) in the pre-hospital ambulance service care for persons from minority ethnic groups, with a view to (i) reducing health inequalities, (ii) avoiding inappropriate emergency hospital admissions and (iii) minimising costs and risks.
Reference
Phung, V-H. Niroshan Siriwardena, A. [and] Windle, K. [et al] (2015). Ethnicity and prehospital emergency care provided by ambulance services. London: Race Equality Foundation, May 2015. Better Health Briefing Paper No. 37.
Questioning the Cost-Effectiveness of Seven-Day Hospital Services
An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of 7-day emergency services:
Reference
Meacock, R. Doran, T. [and Sutton, M. (2015). What are the costs and benefits of providing comprehensive seven-day services for emergency hospital admissions? Health Economics. May 22nd 2015. [Epub ahead of print].
UEC Vanguards
Organisations and partnerships across England have been invited to apply to become Urgent and Emergency Care Vanguard Sites:
Reference
Urgent and emergency care. London: NHS England, June 3rd 2105.
Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) and Royal College of Nursing (RCN) 2016 Summit
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine and Royal College of Nursing recommendations for reducing the pressure on emergency medical services in the UK propose a commitment for education funding, provision of training time and a credible workforce planning strategy for emergency care. Also recommended is the co-location of services, involving a change in culture to make emergency departments more collaborative and the adoption of a hub structure.
Reference
The medicine needed for the emergency care service. London: Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), August 17th 2016.
