Winner

University Hospitals Bristol Foundation Trust: UHBristol Emergency Department High Impact User Team

University Hospitals Bristol FT has identified around 800 high impact users, who attended the emergency department very frequently – up to 60 times a year. This use is often associated with personal, health, mental health or housing crises, and these patients have an annual mortality rate of 15 per cent, mainly from preventable causes, with an average age at death in the mid 30s.

Mental health problems and drug/alcohol problems were present in almost all patients. UHBristol developed an alternate pathway to help this vulnerable cohort, formed of an ED consultant, ED matron, GP and nurse specialists in homeless health, mental health, drug and alcohol services. This group proactively managed frequent attenders, by helping with crisis planning and referrals when appropriate so that patients felt supported rather than rejected.

This intervention resulted in reduced attendances in all patients managed – 80 per cent overall reduction – with two super users never returning after intervention. Other outcomes are positive patient and staff feedback, and improved management of violent and aggressive behaviour. The service has now been commissioned with funding for a consultant and a nurse coordinator.

Read a detailed case study about this project at HSJ Solutions 

Finalists

  • Barts Health Trust, London’s Air Ambulance & London Ambulance Service Trust: The Physician Response Unit: ‘Taking the Emergency Department to the Patient’ – HIGHLY COMMENDED
  • Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Groups: Supporting High Volume Users Across Birmingham and Solihull
  • Lincolnshire Community Health Service Trust: Lincolnshire Clinical Assessment Service
  • London Ambulance Service Trust: Advanced Paramedic Practitioners in Urgent Care
  • Luton CCG in partnership with Consultant Connect: How we avoided 5,900 A&E attendances over 2 years
  • North West Utilisation Management (part of Health Innovation Manchester): ‘100% Challenges’ drive clinical service uplifts
  • Taunton and Somerset FT: Musgrove Park Hospital’s Integrated Front Door
  • Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care FT and Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council: Tameside and Glossop Home First – Embedding and supporting Home First through the Integrated Urgent Care Team (IUCT)
  • University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust: Review of employing medical students as medical assistants in A&E
  • Western Sussex Hospitals FT: Right care, right place – getting both right for critically ill patients

 

Topics

Winners of 2018 HSJ Value Awards revealed