Home / Health / Ambulance Trust Ends Hospital-First Policy
Ambulance Trust Ends Hospital-First Policy
9 Jun
Summary
- Sending all patients to hospital is now outdated.
- New strategy focuses on care closer to home.
- Implementation of the new protocol by 2030.
An NHS ambulance trust has declared that the practice of sending every patient to a hospital is an outdated and ineffective healthcare method. The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST), serving multiple counties, has launched a new strategy called the Patient Plan. This initiative aims to transform how patients receive care.
The core of the Patient Plan is to move away from hospitals being the default destination for all patients. Instead, if it is safe to do so, individuals will receive care closer to their homes. This strategic shift is anticipated to significantly improve the trust's ambulance response times.
The EEAST has set a target for the full implementation of this new protocol by the year 2030. This forward-looking plan signifies a major evolution in emergency medical services within the East of England region.
