Reducing inappropriate emergency department attendances--a review of ambulance service attendances at a regional teaching hospital in Scotland.

INTRODUCTION

Emergency Departments (ED) in the UK have seen increasing attendance rates in recent years. Departments are now seeking strategies to reduce their attendances. A review of all ambulance attendances to the ED at Ninewells Hospital was conducted to identify if patients presenting by ambulance could be seen and treated more appropriately in other parts of the health service.

METHOD

A retrospective review of ambulance attendances to the ED at Ninewells Hospital over 7 non-consecutive days. The ambulance patient report form and the ED notes were reviewed by the duty consultant to deem whether it was appropriate for the patient to be presented to the ED. If inappropriate, an alternative destination was suggested. Additional data was collected on the source of the ambulance call.

RESULTS

There were 910 attendances in the 7 days. 295 (32%) presented by ambulance. 32 had incomplete data and were excluded. 185 (70%) and 179 (68%) of the 263 were deemed appropriate from review of the patient report form and notes respectively. Of the inappropriate, 74.4% and 79.7% had primary care suggested as an alternative. Patients who call for their own ambulance and NHS24 had higher rates of inappropriate attendances.

DISCUSSION

The ambulance services present one-third of the patients to the ED at Ninewells Hospital. 30%-32% were found to be attending inappropriately and 74%-80% of these could have been managed in primary care. Reducing inappropriate ambulance attendances could reduce the departmental patient load by 11%.