Seven-day ED discharge assessment service

In 2015, the established AHP discharge assessment service at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust changed its weekend opening times.

The service had operated from 8am to midday at weekends. The more comprehensive service operated from 8am to 4pm. In 2016, the service developed professional standards. It also introduced a more robust form of data collection.

The aim of the service is to avoid hospital admissions from the emergency department (ED). The service manages patients assessed as medically fit to return home. The team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists developed into a seven-day therapy-led service in ED. The team developed its own interprofessional standards for referrals.

Achievements

Evaluation during 2016/17 showed the team assessed 2,046 patients. Of these, 1,340 were from ED and 706 from the medical assessment unit. The team discharged 64% home on the same day - avoiding hospital admission.

The team exceeded all professional standards. Patients were reviewed and assessed within an average of:

• 15 minutes when referred from ‘majors’
• 21 minutes when referred from ‘minors’

Most of the team's patients had originally presented to ED following a fall.