New emergency service expands to Clare, lessens overcrowding in hospitals
A SERVICE, which aims to safely keep older people who phone 999/112 in their home rather than bringing them to a hospital emergency department (ED), is now responding to calls in Clare.
A partnership between the National Ambulance Service and the UL Hospitals Group, Pathfinder launched in Limerick in October 2022 and has in recent weeks expanded its geographical area of operations across the Mid-West.
The Pathfinder rapid response team responds to low acuity 999/112 calls for older people (65 years and older). This may be someone who, for example, has experienced a fall at home or who is generally unwell.
Where safe, the team supports the older person at home rather than transporting them to an ED, by linking with a wide range of alternative hospital and community services. If the patient does require assessment, they will be brought directly to their nearest ED.
“We know that older adults are particularly at risk and have associated negative outcomes from lengthy wait times in ED settings, which can include cognitive decline, as well as exposure to a noisy, stressful hospital environment,” said Shirley Real, Allied Health Group Lead, UL Hospitals group.
“The importance of sleep, a familiar environment, as well as specialist knowledge to promote return to function are a welcome addition to community care. Patient feedback from the first year of operation of Pathfinder in the MidWest has been hugely positive and we are delighted to expand the service across the region.”
Pathfinder also operates a follow-up team (physiotherapy and occupational therapy) which provides immediate home-based rehabilitation, equipment provision and case management in the subsequent days following the 999/112 call.
Over the first eight months of 2023, a total of 2,874 ambulance calls have been referred to the Pathfinder teams. Of these, a total of 42% of the patients involved were able to stay at home, where they availed of alternative pathways of care rather than going to hospital.
Over the last six months (April-September) in the MidWest, 188 patients were assessed by the regional Pathfinder team, of whom 47% were supported at home without the need to go to the ED.