A pilot scheme to provide Emergency Department (ED) care in the community in Walsall, avoiding people having to go to hospital, has prevented more than 76 per cent of the patients the team was called to see attending ED within its first month of operation.

The Community Emergency Medicine Service (CEMS) sees ED clinicians being sent to people’s homes to assess and treat them – with diagnostic tests, treatment, and follow-up care all taking place there.

It focuses on adults who would usually be brought into ED via ambulance following falls, complex wounds, head injuries, breathing difficulties or end-of-life care.

Ben McWalter, Divisional Lead of Advanced Practice at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, who has a paramedic background, said early results were encouraging.

“We know a number of patients bought into ED by ambulance will have to wait for assessment and treatment but will not need to be admitted. This scheme helps us to provide a better, less stressful experience for some patients while supporting our West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) colleagues to free up ambulances for those in greater need.

“This approach of providing ED level care in the community supports the 10 Year Health Plan where the emphasis is on treating patients in or near their own homes. No-one likes coming to hospital and if the ED is particularly busy this can heighten people’s anxiety levels. CEMS sends senior ED clinicians such as ED Consultants and Senior Advanced Clinical Practitioners to assess and treat patients in their own, familiar environment.”

Ben said the team was working closely with the Trust’s existing community services where staff had been “fantastic” in supporting the pilot which has so far helped 76.5 per cent of people seen by CEMS to avoid hospital attendance after starting on 4 December last year. Similar schemes run elsewhere in the country, and this pilot will gather feedback from patients as part of its evaluation.

Ben added: “People’s reactions have been very positive, and we clearly explain the approach to them so they are reassured they are being treated by the same clinicians they would see in hospital. Post treatment follow ups will also be handled in the same way as if they had been seen in the ED, with referrals to clinics or support from our brilliant Virtual Wards and community teams.”

CEMS currently operates Monday to Wednesday and the team hopes the pilot will be expanded.