Hundreds avoid A&E in ambulance hub trial - trust

The trial hubs have been based at centres in Paddock Wood and Ashford in Kent

Hundreds of patients have avoided a trip to A&E during successful trials of "clinical hubs" to assess certain 999 calls, an ambulance trust has said.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) hubs, set up in October 2023, allow NHS specialists to work together to decide on care for patients.

Since the trials in Paddock Wood and Ashford began, Secamb said it had discharged more than 800 patients still on scene and helped more than 1,300 avoid being taken to A&E.

Hub lead Sean Edwards said it was "directly benefitting patients" and gave crews "access to senior clinicians to aid in complex decision making".

Secamb covers East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, Surrey, and North East Hampshire.

The trials have been based at ambulance Make Ready Centres in Paddock Wood and Ashford but there are now plans to extend them across more of Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

The trust said it was helping to reduce pressure on A&E by guiding patients to the most appropriate service and supporting ambulance crews at the scene.

Specialist paramedics have been working alongside emergency department consultants and clinicians from East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, plus urgent care teams, including a home treatment service.

'True collaboration'

In November, Secamb said just 13% of calls to its 999 service were for critically ill or injured people.

However, since the beginning of October, the hubs have helped discharge more than 800 patients while ambulance crews were on scene, the trust said.

The Paddock Wood hub has also helped more than 500 patients avoid a trip to A&E "where the original plan" was to take them, and referred 191 patients to a home treatment team.

In Ashford, more than 800 patients due to attend A&E were able to avoid a visit, while 180 GP in emergency department appointments were arranged with about 250 patients referred to a home treatment team.

Secamb operations manager for Ashford Nakai Redman said the trial showed "we can improve the response and ultimately the care we provide".

Mr Edwards, who is Secamb's practice development lead as well as the Paddock Wood hub lead, described it as "a true collaboration" that was "directly benefitting patients".

He said it gave ambulance crews "access to senior clinicians to aid in complex decision making, ensuring patient safety and improving the quality of care we can provide".