January data from the new North West London Integrated Care Coordination (ICC) Hub evidenced 34 Emergency Department(ED) attendances were avoided at West Middlesex University Hospital.
The ICC Hub, an innovative project, delivered by NHS North West London Integrated Care Board, provides real-time senior clinical decision-making support to London Ambulance Service crews to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, first time.
While 34 may appear modest in the context of overall ED activity, it represents an important and measurable step in the right direction. These are 34 patients who, following senior clinical review, were safely supported through alternative pathways rather than conveyed to ED.
This is part of a system-wide intervention that is still maturing and strengthening its staffing model, this signals a positive early trend in reducing avoidable hospital attendance, directly aligned to the Hounslow Borough Based Partnership (BBP) objective.
Martin Waddington, Hounslow ICB Commissioning Director:
“The early impact of the Integrated Care Coordination Hub is very encouraging. While the West Middlesex figures may appear modest in the context of overall Emergency Department activity, each one represents a resident who received the right care, in the right place, without an unnecessary hospital visit.”
Reducing avoidable hospital attendance is a core BBP ambition. The impact at West Middlesex demonstrates:
- Reduced pressure on ED capacity
- Improved ambulance availability
- Greater utilisation of community-based pathways
- Care delivered closer to home for residents
- Tangible progress against that aim
As the ICC model becomes fully embedded, BBP partners hope to see continued and potentially accelerated reductions in ED conveyance at West Middlesex and across the system.