Dr Grant Robinson (National Lead, Unscheduled Care Improvement in Wales) talks about how patients receive better care when patient flow is improved.
The Patient Flow Programme
Patient flow receptionAccident and Emergency departments and other 'unscheduled care' services are under increasing pressure to effectively meet the needs of the people who use them. This results in long delays in people receiving treatment and may put lives at risk.
Meeting the demands for unscheduled care services has been identified as a priority by senior leaders in NHS Wales organisations. The Patient Flow Programme is therefore being developed as a key strand for improvement work in Wales.
The problem
The pressure on the healthcare system in Wales results in delays in diagnosis and treatment and patients staying in hospital for longer than is necessary.
It also impacts the ambulance service, with patients unable to be moved from ambulances to hospital.
Delays in the system lead to increased risks for patients and potentially longer stays. It also places pressure on staff. If patients are kept in hospital for longer then necessary, this poses additional risks to the health of patients and also incurs financial costs to the organisation.
Improving patient flow
The Patient Flow Programme looks at ways to speed up the 'flow' of patients through the system, ensuring patients are not held up in Accident & Emergency units, receive the treatment they need quickly, and are able to return home as quickly as possible.
The programme draws learning from the successful experiences of South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Foundation NHS Trust, where work to improve 'flow' was led by Kate Silvester from the Health Foundation.
NHS Wales organisations are working together to identify the blockages and delays in their hospital systems, to identify ways of achieving smoother patient flow. This will improve patient outcomes and experience, and alleviate the pressure on staff.
1000 Lives Improvement is a part of Public Health Wales, supporting organisations and individuals in NHS Wales to deliver improved health, healthcare outcomes and user experience. Find out more at: [ Ссылка ]
