GENERAL PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR AMBULANCE REQUESTS (ACCESS TO URGENT CARE) v2
- Immediately Life Threatening (ILT) ambulance, organised by HCP directly with SAS Call 0333 399 0111, option 1 directly so SAS call handlers know a health care provider (HCP) is calling, rather than a member of the public.
If needing pre-arrival instructions e.g. CPR, choking, then call 999 directly
- Blue Light Emergency Ambulance, organised by HCP directly with SAS for time-critical conditions including stroke, ischaemic limb, #NOF, DIB
Call 0333 399 0111, option 1
- Urgent Ambulance, organised by FC. Timed admission (for 1, 2 or 4-hour response)
Transport information gathered by Flow Centre from referring HCP:
· Access/Key Safe/Steps?
· Patient’s Estimated or Actual weight
· Does the patient require monitoring/intervention? what type?
· Escort? Y/N
· Relevant infection risk? (MERS, mpox, scabies etc)
· Does the patient require oxygen? – more than 6 litres/min?
Information given by FC to referring HCP:
Discourage HCPs from calling back to FC to escalate response times if there is a clinical deterioration or to chase ambulance arrival times etc.
If there is clinical deterioration, HCP should call 999 (if looking for pre-arrival instructions e.g. CPR, choking) or otherwise, HCP should call 0333 399 0111 option 1
Inform HCP at the time of FC referral if there are high call volumes and reassure that if the ambulance is delayed beyond the time stamp (1,2 or 4 hours), SAS will call the patient. A SAS clinician monitors the waiting times on an hourly basis. SAS managers review the stack. HCPs calling back to FC and SAS does not hasten the patient journey. Regional ambulance control can be contacted by HCP if concerns (0345 602 3999).
SAS Ambulance Control Centre Actions:
- SAS call handler will enter clinical information and the system will calculate the response time for the ambulance. SAS have multiple codes for HCP requests for emergencies so tell SAS the problem and SAS will determine the acuity.
- If the patient does not require monitoring, the journey may be passed to Patient Transport Services.
- DNA CPR status can be accessed by SAS via Key Information Summary (if it has been updated in timely way).
- SAS will advise if they are experiencing a high volume of calls.
- If the ambulance is delayed beyond time stamp (1,2 or 4 hours), SAS will call the patient as they monitor waiting times hourly and review the stack.
