A new pilot will see London Ambulance Service paramedics working in GP surgeries across the London borough of Merton to help improve the care patients receive and reduce the pressures on GPs this winter.
Using e-bikes, twelve paramedics will be supporting Merton Health – a collective of 6 Primary Care Networks (PCNs) made up of local GP practices – by cycling to patients in the community and helping deliver this season’s flu vaccinations. Each PCN will be assigned two paramedics who will work on rotational shifts between the ambulance service and the practices.
The medics will also help assess and treat those suffering with long term conditions, patients that have recently been discharged from hospital, and also patients who have coronavirus and a pre-existing health condition. Once the patient is assessed, the paramedics will work with GPs to refer patients to the most appropriate follow-up care and assist with their care plans.
Starting this month, the six-month pilot aims to alleviate some of the pressures on GP surgeries, speed up the time it takes for patients to be seen and make sure they’re seen by the most appropriate clinicians. It is hoped that it will also reduce pressure on our Service by cutting the need to send ambulances and avoiding unnecessary attendance at A&E.
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