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Home visits from Staffordshire nurses cut A&E admissions

Over-run A&E departments have avoided 200 extra admissions after nurses started visiting patients at home in Staffordshire.

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The scheme, originally trialled in Cannock, sees 'urgent care' nurses go out to patients who would otherwise call an ambulance or visit an accident and emergency department.

After a successful start in Cannock, it was expanded through the county in May.

Since then, the nurses have seen 336 patients and avoided 200 A&E admissions.

Rose Goodwin, interim director of nursing at the trust, said things had been going well and it was proving an invaluable service.

"We know patients recover better in their own homes and that's why this service is so important. Our community services are vital in providing care and support to people with hospital services only accessed as last alternative," she said.

"Our urgent care nurses are experienced and trained advance nurse practitioners which means they can do more than a traditional district nurse such as assess, diagnose, prescribe, where appropriate, necessary treatment and coordinate a multi-disciplinary approach and therefore patients can be treated better at home and avoid an admission to hospital."

Health chiefs hope the new system will continue to relieve pressure on emergency departments.

It comes as Stafford Hospital's A&E is closed overnight and hours are reduced at Cannock Hospital's minor injuries unit.

GPs, West Midlands Ambulance Service, nursing and residential homes as well as staff from Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership Trust can refer to the Cannock-based Urgent Care Service and speak to a clinician to agree the type and timescale of response required.

The urgent care nurse will visit the patient, assess their needs and treat where possible and refer them on to other community services if required.

Patients who are seen as being at high risk of being admitted to hospital such as those with terminal illnesses or people prone to falls will have an emergency care plan to help the nurses deal with them at home.

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