GP Connect helps EMAS avoid unnecessary hospitalisation for elderly patient

GP Connect is a service that allows GP practices and authorised clinical staff to share and view GP practice clinical information and data between IT systems, quickly and efficiently.

The service makes patient medical information available to clinicians when and where they need it leading to improvements in the care they're able to provide.

GP Connect is already helping GP practices share appointments across Extended Access Hubs and with support services like NHS 111 to meet targets set out in the GMS Contract.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) are using GP Connect so clinicians can access patient information to inform clinical decision making when dealing with emergencies.

Secure access to patient information to authorised clinical staff proved vital to the delivery of safe and efficient patient care as demonstrated by the following incident.

A 94-year-old female, who had recently been admitted to a care home, appeared unwell to the weekend care staff so they called 999.

EMAS sent a paramedic and when they arrived the care home staff said they were concerned that the patient required hospital admission as they were not aware of any present conditions. The history they could give the paramedic was minimal. As part of the clinical assessment the paramedic tried to contact the patients next of kin to gain a better history, but he was not available. The paramedic then used GP Connect to see what information, in addition to their clinical findings, may be available.

A decision was taken to contact the GP, who also felt the patient was suitable to remain at the care home with a change to medication and said they would visit the patient on Monday if there was no improvement.

This further information helped avoid an unnecessary hospital admission for the patient as well as helping the care staff to be better informed.