A new team of specially trained paramedics is being deployed to treat 999 patients in their own homes, in an effort to ease the enormous pressure on the region’s hospitals.
The ambulance trust is recruiting dozens of specialist doctors to dispatch in cars on emergency calls that are not considered life-threatening.
Chiefs hope to free up ambulance crews for more serious incidents and reduce the number of patients who are rushed to hospital but then forced to wait hours in the back of vehicles before being admitted to A&E.
It comes as NHS officials warn of massive pressures on the region’s health services, and the local watchdog warns that patients face waits of more than 12 hours to be admitted to wards at all three acute care hospitals. of Norfolk.
Experts say the problems stem from high levels of demand and difficulties getting people to hospital because there are not enough beds available.
The problem worsens with people who are well enough to leave the hospital but cannot be discharged because not enough care arrangements have been made for them.
To reduce the number of people going to hospital, the East of England Ambulance Service said it is recruiting 40 “advanced practitioners” who will be sent on 999 calls.
They will work alongside existing paramedics and ambulance staff and will be specially trained to treat non-life-threatening conditions such as respiratory and urinary tract infections, acute minor injuries and minor illnesses.
A spokesman for the trust said: “The aim is to see, treat and discharge patients safely and effectively where possible, thereby alleviating pressure on the system through a reduction in transport to hospital and building capacity to Double-staffed ambulances available for life Threats of 911 calls.
“We are working to reduce the number of patients going to hospital, including directing patients to community emergency response services where appropriate.
“There are plans to deploy cars with advanced doctors to be able to treat more patients at home and avoid transport to hospital.”
The ambulance trust said delivery delays to hospitals remained “a major challenge”.
The news comes after it emerged that 500 patients who were well enough to be discharged were stuck at Queen Elizabeth, Norfolk and Norwich University and James Paget Hospitals for days at a time in December while waiting for parcels to be arranged. attention and support.
Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said: “We are aware that it has been a great challenge in recent weeks in Norfolk and Waveney, with hospitals operating at close to 100% bed occupancy.
“The inevitable impact continues for patients with frequent ambulance delays of more than 12 hours. That being said, all services are very conscious of ensuring patient safety.
“There is no question that the staff are hard at work at Norfolk’s three acute care hospitals, and patients tell us they believe they will receive high-quality care if they need it.
“We are aware that the care pipeline from first seeking help to going home is facing blockages due to difficulties in safely discharging some patients and we will be monitoring this.”
On Thursday, a fifth of the beds in a hospital were occupied by people who did not need them.
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital said 200 of its 1,000 beds were occupied by people who no longer required hospital care, almost double the 130 occupied by people with flu or covid.
A spokesman for the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System, on behalf of the NNUH, QEH and James Paget, said: “The NHS continues to experience extremely high levels of demand locally and we are seeing large numbers of very sick people attending emergency departments by contacting NHS111, accessing GP services and calling 999.
“In addition to an increase in seasonal illnesses like the flu, norovirus and covid-19, we continue to face ongoing challenges in discharging patients who are well enough to leave the hospital.
“Essential services are open to those who need them most and people are urged to only go to an emergency department if absolutely necessary.
“This includes serious accidents, chest pain, shortness of breath, signs of a stroke, or bleeding that won’t stop.
“Visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111 for anything that seems urgent, or if you’re not sure what to do.”
