- The NHS Long Term Plan has laid down the expectation that a 2-hour response service must be put in place.
- The Cornwall Ambulance Service staff are expert in delivering an urgent response, 24hrs a day, across the whole county.
Expert in delivering an urgent response
The NHS Long Term Plan has laid down the expectation that a 2-hour response service must be put in place; often when people are in crisis, they are not able to travel or access the right service for them immediately. A consistent 24/7 urgent care response is required.
The current system of health and social care is continuously challenged and struggles to meet the urgent care needs of older people. All too often the default position is for frail older people is to be taken to the Emergency Department (ED), with a high probability of being admitted to hospital.
The number of residents supported in residential or nursing homes has been in decline, this despite the growing population of people aged 65+, especially those over 85 years. This means that a growing population of the most vulnerable older people will be living independently.
The coordination of services to care for older people safely in the community can often be overlooked if this is clinically appropriate. A consistent 24/7 urgent care response is important.
Our Solution
The Cornwall Ambulance Service Urgent Community Response Service provides staff that are expert in delivering an urgent response, 24hrs a day, across the whole county.
Using response cars which are staffed by highly experienced clinicians the service ensures people in crisis are afforded the highest priority response and ensures high quality clinical support can be delivered to people in their own homes across the county, within two hours of the call for help being made.
By being able to immediately assess a person’s health concerns, injuries or underlying illness, the Urgent Community Response Service will rapidly identify the nature of the problem and start to implement a management plan, with a strong emphasis on keeping people safe, well and independent at home.
In most cases, whilst addressing health needs there is an obvious need for further community and social assistance. Respect for the autonomy and dignity of the older person will underpin the Cornwall Ambulance Service’s approach and practice at all times. All older people have the right to a health and social care assessment and should have access to treatments and care based on need, without an age-defined restriction to services.The unique skills of the clinicians responding to these patients enables them to manage the patient holistically, making timely contact with services to initiate the right care in the right place at the right time.
Urgent community response service
Improved patient service meeting the expectations of the NHS Long Term Plan.
Reduction in avoidable conveyance to the Emergency Department.
Contribute to achieving four hour standard waiting times by reducing admissions to the Emergency Department.
Reduction in avoidable unplanned admissions.
