Somerset PCT is introducing new services for reducing avoidable emergency admissions. Teams from wave 1 and wave 2 of the PBC Development Programme have been involved in the service redesign.

A Single Point of Access (SPA) service will be established across Somerset, to be active 9am until 7.30pm, Monday to Sunday.

The purpose is to ensure that patients referred for urgent care are given prompt assessment of their needs and provided with the most appropriate service. The SPA service will also ensure better use of alternative services that have been established to treat people outside hospital.

A single phone number for all requests for emergency admission to secondary care across Somerset has been set up. This team holds a directory of up-to-date information on community-based services which might provide an alternative care pathway for certain patients who might otherwise be admitted to secondary care. These alternatives include; community hospitals, the community matron service, social care to support patients in their homes and nursing home beds.

The service will enable GPs, out of hours doctors, paramedics and emergency care practitioners, and accident and emergency doctors to identify patients who might benefit from these services as an alternative to hospital admission.

Where admission to secondary care is the most appropriate or only viable option, the service will make the necessary transport arrangements, and social support arrangements where appropriate.