UK. New critical care services help improve patient care

Citation

(2004), "UK. New critical care services help improve patient care", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 17 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2004.06217aab.010

UK. New critical care services help improve patient care

UK

New critical care services help improve patient care

Keywords: Critical care outreach services

A new report, Critical Care Outreach 2003: Progress in Developing Services by the Critical Care Outreach Forum, says that critical care outreach services are significantly improving the care of patients in hospital who are critically ill or are in danger of becoming critically ill. The report evaluates progress in the development of critical care outreach services since their introduction in the Critical Care Modernisation Programme in May 2000.

Outreach services have helped reduce pressures on critical care units and increase staff skills and knowledge. For example:

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  The Royal Cornwall Hospital's outreach service established its modified early warning system (MEWS) to ensure that patients are referred to the critical care service in an appropriate and timely manner. The Outreach Service is an excellent example of a multi-professional, multi-disciplinary service that has improved the delivery of care to patients at risk of, and recovering from, critical illness.

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  At Leeds General Infirmary, the earlier identification of patients at risk of needing critical care has reduced the average length of stay of patients in critical care units from 7.4 to 4.8 days. Similar results have been reported by the Central Manchester NHS Trust.

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  At the Royal Free Hospital, London, outreach support and increased skill levels of general ward staff has reduced hospital mortality from 22.7 per cent to 14.7 per cent (or by 8 per cent) and reduced re-admissions from 12.8 per cent to 5.8 per cent.

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  At Southport and Ormskirk, systematic patient monitoring ("Track and trigger") associated with outreach has reduced the time taken to admit a patient to intensive care from an average of 15.5 hours (on wards without this monitoring) to 5.5 hours on wards that used the tool.

The report also shows how outreach services have helped with the recovery of patients discharged from critical care as well as providing feedback on ways that patients' experience in critical care units can be improved.

Health Minister Rosie Winterton said: "Critical care outreach is one of the success stories of the Critical Care Modernisation Programme. This report clearly illustrates how staff, working in new and different ways can bring improvements to care provided to patients who are at risk of becoming critically ill and help reduce admissions to critical care units. They can help with the early identification of patients at risk of needing critical’care that can shorten lengths of stay in critical care units. Outreach can also enable the early, safe, transfer from critical care units to general wards.

"This is an excellent example of multi-professional, multi-skilled working that is improving the delivery of care to patients. The experience and skill of critical care staff are used to increase knowledge of staff working in general wards for the benefit of patients and also help with professional development and job satisfaction".

Further information: further information is available at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/