Emergency patient death rates have dropped by more than 20% in two years thanks to a new treatment centre opened by Bassetlaw clinical commissioning group (CCG).
Consultant care is now on offer in an assessment and treatment centre (ATC) at Bassetlaw Hospital in Worksop.
Emergency patient death rates have dropped by more than 20% in two years thanks to a new treatment centre opened by Bassetlaw clinical commissioning group (CCG).
Consultant care is now on offer in an assessment and treatment centre (ATC) at Bassetlaw Hospital in Worksop.
The CCG came up with the idea when they first took over commissioning healthcare two years ago. The ward was refurbished and the hospital was paid to recruit new consultants trained in dealing with acute medical emergencies rather than specialising on one disease area.
Senior cover is provided seven days per week. The ATC teams access enhanced diagnostic services, therapeutic services and social care services.
Since the ATC opened, mortality rates have dropped 25% for those admitted on the weekend, and the average length of stay has done down from 7.9 days to 6.5 days.
Dr Steve Kell, chair of Bassetlaw CCG and co-chair of the NHS Clinical Commissioners leadership group said the system was cost effective while improving quality.
He said: "If you look at the evidence it shows us that people admitted to a hospital in an emergency at night or at the weekend are more likely to die and that's partly to do with staffing and access to investigations.
"When we got everyone around the table we quickly reached a consensus that patients needed rapid assessment, rapid access to diagnostics and prompt treatment."
Dr Tim Noble, clinical director for general and acute medicine at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "The regular presence of senior staff has helped all staff to deliver good quality care for patients on the ATC and produced an environment for further learning and development."
