Almost a hundred patients have been conveyed by ambulance to Solihull’s Walk-in Centre since December, thanks to partnership working between West Midlands Ambulance Service and Solihull teaching Primary Care Trust.
The walk-in centre, located on the same site as Solihull Hospital, provides treatment for a range of medical conditions and complaints to patients who don’t necessarily need to visit Accident and Emergency (A&E).
Sore throats, chest infections, rashes, minor cuts and injuries, breathing problems, vomiting and bee stings are some of the many conditions that are treated at the walk-in centre.
West Midlands Ambulance Service has utilised the Walk-in Centre extremely well since December, conveying patients there who would have normally gone to local A&E departments for treatment. As well as ‘drop offs’ by ambulances, the walk-in centre also welcomes patients who self present at their door.
Patients benefit from being seen, treated and discharged from the walk-in centre within 30 minutes compared to an average four hour wait at a busy A&E department.
Ambulances also benefit from quick patient handovers at the walk-in centre; something that isn’t always guaranteed at A&E when medical staff are busy dealing with patients who have been critically injured in a road traffic collision or are in cardiac arrest. With less time being spend handing over a patient, ambulances are also free to respond to more 999 calls in the local area.
Similarly, local A&E departments benefit greatly from the work of the Walk in Centre that concentrates on minor injuries and illness, as it leaves their medical staff to deal with the very seriously injured and critically ill patients who need vital emergency medical treatment.
Katy Stewart, Commissioning Manager for Urgent/Integrated Care at Solihull NHS Care Trust said: “The staff at the walk-in centre are very pro active when it comes to helping the public and are continually thinking of ways to increase patient attendance.
“The number of drops offs by the ambulance service has been exceptionally good since its introduction in December and the trend is continuing month on month.
“Each patient who comes to the walk-in centre is usually seen, treated and discharged within half an hour. During busy periods in A&E, these patients could expect to wait up to four hours for treatment.”
Victoria Young, Solihull Healthcare and Walk-in Centre Manager, said: “The skills of our staff are continually being expanded so that more and more patients with a broader range of conditions can be treated here as opposed to Heartlands, Good Hope or Solihull Hospital.
“We want local residents in Solihull to use the walk-in centre for non emergency conditions, complaints and injuries rather than calling 999 or going to A&E.”
Mark Gough, West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Operations Director said: “The walk-in centre in Solihull is a shining example of an alternative care pathway. I am confident it will continue to further improve to provide patient’s with the care they need.”
Phil Calow, Group Station Manager for Solihull Ambulance Station said: “Not only does the walk-in centre help our Trust to respond to more 999 calls, thanks to quicker patient handovers, but ultimately patients are receiving the best possible care for their conditions.
”Our staff really enjoy utilising the walk-in centre as it means they spend less time off the road and more time responding to 999 calls and saving lives. The more people who utilise the walk-in centre for non urgent conditions the better as it ultimately leaves the ambulance service and accident and emergency department to deal with patients with life threatening conditions and injuries.”
