Effectively Managing Patient Flow

Urgent and emergency care services continue to undergo a programme of transformation. An ageing population and more people living with multiple complex needs are exerting a modified demand on the NHS. Urgent care provision is at the forefront of adapting to meet the needs of patients and improve clinical outcomes.

Over the next 10 years, NHS organisations will look to work in a more integrated way to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Directing patients, in the first instance, to the most appropriate route of treatment within pan NHS settings ensures that patient flow is improved, and demand is better managed.

The Effectively Managing Patient Flow conference is the 7th in a series of highly successful events focusing on urgent care provision. The agenda will examine in depth the aims of the 10-year plan and how they will impact on urgent care delivery. Key areas of focus include:

The need to provide care in the most appropriate setting, in a timely manner, to ensure that congestion and delays in the flow of patients are minimised

The roll out of new ways of working within community, primary and acute care settings

Innovative programmes, schemes and technologies aimed at improving patient outcomes and relieving pressure in the system

The agenda will provide delegates with a greater understanding of future urgent care provision and discuss the opportunities and the challenges in providing a sustainable service that is reactive to demand.

In recent years there has been significant measures taken to alleviate some of the pressures within the urgent and emergency care service. The availability of evening and weekend GP appointments, greater access to the NHS 111 service and reductions in delayed transfer of care (DToC) are just some examples of initiatives assisting with providing the right treatments, at the right place, in the right time. If more of this can be achieved, then patient flow can be improved, and better outcomes can be realised.

The acute hospital system can easily become congested by the sheer numbers of those attending the emergency department through to the delays experienced in sending those that medically fit for discharge home.

The NHS Long Term Plan has set out its aims to improve the delivery of emergency and urgent care and release the pressure the system is currently working under. There is to be a boost in primary and community healthcare, with funding worth £3.5 million per year, in real terms, by 2023/24. The hope is that this will provide more urgent care and greater support in the community as an alternative to hospital.

As part of the NHS 111 provision, multi-disciplinary Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) will be rolled out during 2019/20. The aim is to offer specialist advice, treatment and referral from a wide range of health professionals. Also, by 2020, The Urgent Treatment Model will be fully implemented. These GP led facilities will offer locally accessible and convenient urgent care for patients that do not need to attend hospital. New 24/7 Rapid Response Teams are to be established and will comprise of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists etc. to prevent admission to hospital and aid timely discharge and recovery.

Also, during 2019/20, all major A and E Departments will introduce Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), also known as ambulatory emergency care. This will involve new diagnostic and treatment practices and allow patients to spend just hours in hospital and avoid being admitted. This will benefit the patient flow by freeing up beds and reduce pressure throughout the rest of the hospital.

The plan also looks to develop new ways of working to improve patient pathways following strokes, heart attacks, major trauma, asthma attacks and sepsis.

Efforts will be made to reduce the number of patients that remain in hospital, despite being medically fit for discharge. These delayed transfers of care snarls up patient flow and increases risk to patients from both physical and cognitive deterioration.

At the Supporting Patient Flow in Urgent Care: Right Care-Right Time-Right Place conference, the plans for urgent and emergency care will be discussed, digested and debated to provide an informed vision for the future.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Royal National Hotel, 38-51 Bedford Way, London, United Kingdom