Galway University Hospitals has said that a pilot programme set up to navigate patients away from emergency care to more appropriate care pathways has been operating successfully over recent months.
The Emergency Department Avoidance Programme aims to decrease the number of GP-referred ED presentations by 10% by referring patients to a virtual navigational hub.
This in turn streams them to alternate care, including direct referrals into acute services in the hospital or to urgent out-patient appointments in hospital clinics or community hubs.
Thirteen GP practices with 48 GPs were involved in the pilot, including one practice located on Inishturk Island.
Over a five month period the hub has dealt with 108 referrals with two thirds of these patients avoiding an ED visit as a result.
Fifty-nine patients were diverted to new or existing pathways. Within one week of receiving the referral in the Navigational Hub 78% of patients were seen by the appropriate specialist.
For patients aged 75 or older, 35 were referred to the hub and 28 avoided ED attendances as a result.
The Saolta University Health Care Group said the pilot has resulted in an estimated 156 saved bed days, freeing up these beds for other patients.
The Acute Integrated Pre-admission Navigational Hub operates on a restricted basis, Monday to Friday from 9am to1pm.
Consultant Cardiologist at GUH and chair of the pilot programme Dr Yvonne Smyth said the programme has had a positive impact for patients, bringing together medical services "across our hospitals, GPs and community services and has created a clinically safe service that is sustainable."
Galway GP Dr John Lally, who took part in the programme, said the programme allows doctors to treat patients in the "setting most appropriate for their needs, within a reasonable timeframe".
Nationally emergency department attendances have increased by 7.7% compared to 2019. This demand is predicted to continue requiring a change in demand management. Figures for 2023 showed a 7.3% increase in ED attendances in GUH with 31,000 of these recorded as GP referrals.
GUH Hospital Manager Chris Kane said: "This virtual navigational hub is supporting our aim to achieve the goal of right person, right place, right time , first time' and to direct patients to the appropriate pathways."
