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Should nurses help screen 999 calls to ease pressure on ambulances?

Nurses could be asked to talk to patients who make emergency calls to cut down on unnecessary ambulance journeys
An ambulance with lights flashing on a busy road

Nurses could be asked to talk to patients who make emergency calls to cut down on unnecessary ambulance journeys

An ambulance with lights flashing on a busy road
Picture: iStock

Nurses could be asked to screen patients who call 999 in a bid to cut down on unnecessary ambulance journeys.

NHS England is rolling out a scheme in which around 40% of patients who fall under category 2 calls to 999 – but who have a condition that may be better treated elsewhere – would receive a call back from a medic or nurse to assess their needs.

When appropriate, those patients will be referred to other services in a bid to reduce the load on ambulance crews.

NHS England national clinical director for urgent and emergency care Julian Redhead said: ‘This new system will allow a conversation between a nurse and paramedic or a doctor and the patient – and between them they’ll be able to decide whether an ambulance is the best response or whether no ambulance is required and they’re better cared for in a different environment.’

Pilot scheme found ambulances able to get to more serious cases with no patient safety concerns

It comes after a successful pilot by the London Ambulance Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service which found ambulances were more able to get to more serious cases with no patient safety concerns so far.

Under the plans more clinicians will be put in ambulance control rooms to screen calls. NHS England has been contacted for information on whether this will include nurses.

A nurse speaking on a landline phone
Picture: iStock

Healthcare bosses say they have identified a group of patients who will always require an immediate ambulance response, such as those experiencing strokes or heart attacks under category 2.

However, around 40% of people in category 2 could receive a call back, which would result in them either keeping their place in the queue for an ambulance, being reprioritised or directed to alternative services such as their GP or an urgent treatment centre.

NHS Providers calls it a welcome step to reduce pressure on ambulance services and hospitals

This group may include people with burns, diabetes or headaches, where the severity of the condition can vary.

NHS Providers chief executive Julian Hartley said the plans were a welcome step to reduce pressure on ambulance services and hospitals. ‘However, reducing demand at the front door isn’t enough to ensure sustained improvement.

‘We need to focus on reducing high bed occupancy, increasing bed capacity, and reducing delayed discharges through increased investment in social care and community services too.

‘Major workforce shortages also need to be addressed to ensure measures like this can be put in place.’


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