In July 2024 Staffordshire Healthwatch published a Deep Dive report on patient experiences of using the 999 Ambulance Service. This was the first of 3 Deep Dive projects as part of our workplan for 2023/24. The Deep Dive report highlighted some of the significant pressures in terms of ambulance response times and handover times once reaching Emergency Departments at hospitals. The study also highlighted several admission avoidance initiatives aimed at redu cing conveyance and admission to hospital by treating patients in their own home where possible. This Deep Dive therefore aims to look in some detail at admission avoidance services that focus on reducing unnecessary admissions to hospital and relieving some of the pressures on the ambulance and secondary services. Whilst looking at admission avoidance services overall, Healthwatch are looking in greater detail at the concept and development in practice of 'virtual wards. The initial intelligence gathered through feedback from the public suggests that Healthwatch Staffordshire Avoiding Hospital Admissions 4 there is limited understanding of what a 'virtual ward' is and what this means in practice for them as a potential patient. The aim of this deep dive therefore is to educate and inform the public about admission avoidance in a way that enables them to feel involved in their care at treatment and understand the impetus behind and benefits Admission Avoidance.
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In July 2024 Staffordshire Healthwatch published a Deep Dive report on patient experiences of using the 999 Ambulance Service. This was the first of 3 Deep Dive projects as part of our workplan for 2023/24. The Deep Dive report highlighted...
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