New scheme treats patients at home instead of in hospital

London Ambulance paramedics and Community Independence Service’s (CIS) staff have collaborated to provide alternative care to patients who might otherwise be taken to hospital unnecessarily.

50 paramedics shadowed the CIS staff over the past month.

The Alternative Care Pathway was developed by North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups (NWCCGS), the London Ambulance Service (LAS), and North West London Intermediate Care providers, and instead proposes that, for some conditions, patients are referred to services like CIS’s Rapid Response Team, if this is more appropriate.

This means that some patients don’t go to hospital, unless they need to, and are supported at home.

To support the new alternative the West London CCG has funded 50 LAS paramedics to shadow CIS’ Rapid Response teams in Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham.

Patients accepted for this alternative pathway include those with short term minor illnesses causing reduced mobility or functional decline.

CIS has been able to avoid 195 admissions to hospitals each month. It is made up of the London Central and West Unscheduled Care Collaborative, Central London Healthcare, London Medical Associates - West London GP Federation, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, West London Mental Health NHS Trust, and local authorities in the City of Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham.

Katherine Murray, head of the CIS, said: “It’s a bit like ‘hospital at home’ which is better for maintaining patients’ independence. Patients don’t want to go to hospital unnecessarily: it’s disruptive and can mean worse outcomes for them, and likewise for paramedics it gives them a really valuable alternative.

“The perceived impact so far has been great. Really positive feedback from LAS staff and ours, improved understanding and relationships, and importantly it seems an increase in LAS referrals to Rapid Response, which also benefits the health and care system by avoiding unnecessary transfers to A&E/hospital — very important at this time of year.”