Patients assessed by Paramedics as not requiring attendance at Emergency Departments can be referred to specialist clinical teams or services available in the local HSC Trust Area. This may include a referral to primary care. Some of the conditions which may be suitable for a referral are:
- Patients with Diabetes
- Patients with Minor Injuries
- Patients over 65 without traumatic injury or serious illness who have other needs
- Patients nearing end of life and wishing to remain at home with assistance
- Patients over 65 who have fallen and who have not sustained traumatic injury or serious illness
Please read some examples of ‘See, Treat and Refer’ in action:
Elsie
Elsie is 82. She lives with her husband and has been married for 60 years. Elsie is very independent and can regularly be seen walking to the shops. She walks with the assistance of a stick. Elsie had been complaining of back pain for a number of weeks. She visited her GP who prescribed codeine.
Elsie had been taking her new medication for a few days when she stumbled and fell at home. Her husband called the ambulance and when we arrived, we found Elsie lying on the floor. Thankfully, Elsie was not injured and after fully assessing her we decided that she did not need to go to hospital. She was helped into her chair, and given advice about contacting us if she began to feel unwell or if anything in her current condition changed.
The paramedic knew that there was a risk of Elsie falling again so referred her to the falls team. The following day the falls team contacted Elsie and arranged for her to come into a clinic for assessment. The doctor noticed that Elise’s mobility became slower since she started the codeine so this medication was stopped and Elise was given paracetamol instead.
Elsie is back to her normal self and both she and her husband are looking forward to their summer holiday.
James
James is a 32 year old computer programmer. He has been an insulin controlled diabetic for 16 years and his diabetes is normally well controlled.
This morning James slept in, when we woke, he took his insulin as normal and then rushed to work. At work, James colleagues noticed that he became pale, sweaty and confused and then collapsed. They called an ambulance. A paramedic in a response car arrived and checked James sugar levels which were low. The paramedic gave James an injection and as he began to recover asked his colleagues to make him a sandwich.
James made a full recovery and it became apparent that his hypo was because he forgot to eat breakfast because he slept in. James remained at work however because this was his first hypo in a number of years, the paramedic referred him to the diabetic specialist nurse. The diabetic specialist nurse contacted James within a week and arrange a review of his diabetes management.
James has since bought a new alarm clock.