Local scheme to reduce unnecessary A&E visits spends day filming with BBC North West Tonight

Members of a local scheme to reduce unnecessary A&E visits will feature on BBC North West Tonight, after filming with the broadcaster on Tuesday (2 October).

Made up of an North West Ambulance Service clinician and a nurse practitioner from Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) Community Services, the Heywood Middleton and Rochdale Emergency Assessment and Treatment Team (HEATT) team is able to triage and visit patients from existing 999 calls who are not in an immediately life-threatening condition and may benefit more from alternative help to an emergency ambulance.

The team attended almost 1,000 patients last year, 90% of which were able to receive alternative care to A&E. The scheme has now been expanded from five days a week to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

The service was shortlisted last month for a HSJ Award in the category of ‘Improvement in Emergency and Urgent Care’ after huge success.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/121937/recognition-for-scheme-to-reduce-unnecessary-aande-visits

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Intercontinental London The O2 on 21 November.