Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
GP trial at Thames starts well
None of the patients fast tracked
through Thames Hospital's emergency
department by a
general practitioner as part of a three-month
pilot
required a referral to emergency department
specialists.
The pilot began in Thames on 8 January where
Thames Medical Centre GP
Steven Gunn treated 22 people.
Last Saturday (January 15) Dr Brendon
Aish saw 16 people,
replacing the Thames medical centre's weekend
clinics.
"GPs are skilled in quickly assessing a patient's
need and offering
appropriate treatment," said Dr
Aish.
Patients presenting to the emergency department when
the GP is present
are first triaged by an ED nurse and if
suitable for the GP service, are
"fast tracked" through
this option.
"On both days no patients offered fast
tracked needed a referral to the
ED team. This is an
indication of how well the initial ED triage system
is
working."
People needing after hours primary care services
at weekends are
reminded to phone their GP surgery first
before attending the ED. Their
call will be answered by a
trained nurse who will be able to give them
advise on
whether they need to go to the ED or if they can wait to
see
their doctor on Monday. In emergencies people should
continue to phone 111.
The initiative is a three-month
pilot, funded by Waikato DHB, aimed at
reducing the after
hours demand on GPs and assist with the increasing
ED
workload, particularly over summer.
Thames Hospital
serves a regional population of approximately 35,000
and
a summer influx of in excess of 150,000
people.
Thames Hospital's ED.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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