Ambulance UK February 2021

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LAS
Paramedic pilot
introduced to help
ease pressure on GP
services this winter
A new pilot saw 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.
pilot will help relieve pressure on GP
surgeries and ensure ambulances
go where they are most needed.
“Nobody wants to go to hospital
unless they have to and with
finite resources, our highlyskilled
clinicians are well placed
to assess whether patients
need care at home or if hospital
treatment is required.
“We’re proud to partner with
Merton Health and to provide
their Primary Care Networks with
our skilled paramedics. Merton
are truly leading the way and we
look forward to exploring further
opportunities with other Primary
Care Networks in the future.”
The pilot works to support the
NHS’s Long Term Plan in its
ambition to provide integrated
care to patients within the
community, in which the
paramedic’s role is a vital part in
treating more patients at home.
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 November, 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 the London Ambulance
Service by cutting the need to
send ambulances and avoiding
unnecessary attendance at A&E.
Chief Operating Officer of
London Ambulance Service,
Khadir Meer said: “Winter is an
extremely busy time for our health
service and with the exceptional
year we have had, we hope this
Mariam Ganesaratnam, Chief
Executive Officer of Merton
Health said: “This year has been
a challenge for the entire NHS,
with pressures building in general
practice and A&E’s and our
hospitals seeing an increase in
admissions. We have been pulling
out the stops to ensure that we
are prepared for winter and that
our teams are resilient.
“I have had the pleasure of working
with London Ambulance Service
paramedics on the frontline and
we believe that this new service
will bring significant benefits to our
networks, practices and our patients.
These paramedics will be vital to
relieving winter pressures and will
be a real asset to Primary Care
Networks in Merton. This has been
an exciting opportunity and we hope
that this partnership extends beyond
the six month pilot.”
The pilot is expected to run
until April 2021 and subject to
evaluation, London Ambulance
Service hopes to make this a
permanent feature with the aim to
further expand it across London.
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AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
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