A service which is supporting patients who need urgent or unscheduled care is working with colleagues to direct patients to the most appropriate service for their condition, so that they receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
The Flow Navigation Centre (FNC), based at University Hospital Hairmyres, works across Lanarkshire to identify the pathway most suited to a patient’s needs and, wherever possible, aim to offer the care within a community setting. This reduces the need for the patient to be brought to accident and emergency and offers the patient the care they need as close to home as possible.
Within Lanarkshire the FNC team offers a number of pathways for patients to access the care they need without having to come to hospital. This includes Hospital at Home, community respiratory services, mental health services, pharmacy services and out-of-hours.
As well as directing patients to the most appropriate pathway for their care, the FNC also provides advice to other clinical professionals including primary care, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), care home staff, the prison service and Police Scotland.
The FNC helps to support clinical decision making and to explore alternative options for patients to try and keep them within their homely setting without the need to convey them to hospital
Over the course of a month the team can expect approximately 6,000 calls from GPs, ANPs, care homes, SAS, Police Scotland and other community services looking for advice.
Bernie Harvie, senior charge nurse, flow navigation centre, explained: “The Flow Navigation Centre means that we can ensure patients receive the most appropriate care for their needs as close to home as possible.
“A number of our pathways have evolved over time as we have worked with colleagues from across the wider health and care sector. This has provided us with the opportunity to develop a multi-disciplinary team supported by a range of clinical, nursing and administrative staff.
“The vast majority of the calls received do not need to attend our emergency departments and are dealt without the patient needing to leave their home.”
This week the team were visited by Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director and his deputy, Dr John Harden to hear about the impressive work the team are doing and how the service is continuing to explore other pathways to support patients across Lanarkshire.
Pic: Bernie meets Professor Jason Leitch, national clinical director, his deputy, Dr John Harden, and Professor Jann Gardner, NHS Lanarkshire chief executive
