Service information for ambulance staff

An elderly patient had recently been discharged following ten days in hospital due to a cerebrovascular accident. Given their history, mobility, gait issues, and the fact they lived at home with their elderly wife, who was also frail, the carer was uncomfortable managing the situation. The situation could not be escalated without an assessment from an Occupational Therapist (OT).

I arrived at the patient’s house and used Consultant Connect to contact the stay well@home team rapidly. Following a lengthy discussion, we received amazing support from an OT who arrived at the patient’s home an hour after contact. They carried out a full assessment at home, and at the same time, we were able to liaise with the Care Services, which resulted in continued care at home for the patient. This was very helpful and a fantastic response from the stay well@home team. This was the best outcome for the patient and their wife as they were able to remain at home instead of being taken to A&E.’ Read the case study.

‘I recently attended a female patient in her 40s, who had tested positive for COVID-19 a few days prior to her 999 call. The patient had been monitoring her oxygen saturations continuously, with a pulse oximeter and was concerned that they were low. I used prof to prof clinical decisions via the Consultant Connect App to contact a local consultant to discuss the case. After a full assessment of the patient, all documented observations were within normal parameters and there were no acute changes to the 12 lead ECG, and she had normal air entry in all fields on auscultation, I had no concerns that the patient was significantly unwell.’ Read the case study.

‘I used Telephone Advice & Guidance to speak to an A&E consultant about a patient experiencing what had the potential of a stroke mimic but I thought the patient was experiencing a Bell’s palsy. Using Telephone Advice & Guidance allowed me to speak to an A&E Consultant who was able to talk me through a few simple steps to confirm his suspected diagnosis.

Telephone Advice & Guidance gave both myself and the A&E Consultant the confidence that the best pathway for the patient would be to be referred to their local GP rather than needing to undertake a journey to hospital. The patient was happy that the outcome meant a local appointment with their GP as opposed to an 80-mile round trip to hospital.’ Read the case study.

‘I recently needed to contact the Palliative care team for some advice in managing an End of Life patient. I was able to speak very quickly to the Palliative Care specialist and discuss a treatment plan to allow the patient to remain comfortable at home with their family around them.’ Read the case study.

‘The COPD pathway enables ambulance clinicians to access the respiratory team during operating hours to make assessments and enable shared decisions. We recognise that hospital admittance in some cases is often unwarranted, unwanted and provides little benefit to the overall patient outcomes, and so we are pleased to be able to offer this alternative. Recently, an appropriate alternative to hospital attendance was identified for a 71-year-old patient. This patient was keen to stay at home and received a full care assessment from the Community Respiratory Team within 24 hours.’ Read the case study.