NIAS launch Integrated Clinical Health hub at Ballymena ambulance station

ONE of the first local Integrated Clinical Health remote sites was launched recently at the Northern Ireland Ambulance Station in Ballymena.

The local location was chosen as one of the initial hubs due to the new station’s readiness to receive the systems and strategic central location within the NIAS division.

NIAS are developing new ways of working which it hopes will see them be able to offer further remote sites for the ICH in the near future, and allow more local clinicians the opportunity to join the ICH team, but perform this vital role closer to home.

NIAS established a clinical support desk in 2017 which involved a small team of clinicians performing secondary triage.

Whist effective, it had limitations in overseeing the broader 999 call volume.

In November 2023, NIAS launched the Integrated Clinical Hub (ICH), a reformed our service model, dedicated to advancing patient safety and appropriate timely care.

The establishment of these remote hubs also allowed NIAS to add a new layer of resilience and business continuity with the organisation being able to stand up local clinicians at short notice to support surges in 999 call demand

During the pilot phase of the Ballymena hub, on one occasion NIAS were able to quickly stand a local clinician up to attend the Ballymena hub during a particular surge.

In this episode they were able to support for an additional 8 hours and redirected 16 callers to the most appropriate health care for their needs.

This in turn, meant not only did these patients get the more appropriate care for their needs, but 16 emergency ambulances could be redirected to the sickest patients in the community, reducing their wait for these.

RECRUITMENT

A recent recruitment drive brought in the largest intake of new clinicians, whose completion of training in early 2024 has enabled the organisation to quickly establish an effective team to deliver enhanced patient safety.

The impact has been substantial with over 3,700 patients being assessed as appropriate for discharge or referral to another services, which has meant to preservation of precious emergency resources for those patients requiring a higher acuity of response.

A key part of this plan is to expand and establish remote ICH hubs similar to the Ballymena site, around the region, to provide access for locally based clinicians to join the team and provide this much needed improved service for patients.

This allows staff to contribute to improving our service, without the need to travel long distances into our Belfast control room, therefore providing patients with the service they need but ensuring our staff have a much need work life balance.

EXPANDING

The success of the Ballymena site is already evident, and NIAS are excited about expanding to further suitable sites where we can replicate this model.

This enhanced care model being implemented will mean that the people of Northern Ireland, when making contact with the Ambulance service, may receive a call back from one of our ICH clinicians to take further information on a patient’s condition or injury.

This will ensure that the response we provide for patients is more intelligent and tailored to the needs of patients.

Anyone with an emergency should not hesitate and call 999 immediately.