Urgent care project: best practice review

Source: Warwick Medical School

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Date of Publication: February 2009

Publication Type: Best Practice

In a nutshell: Review aimed at creating an evidence base for the design of a new vertically integrated urgent care system. An extensive review of the literature looking at UK and international examples organises results into: 1) the way care is organised, 2) specific ways of providing care and 3) involving people in their care.  The review identifies initiatives that may reduce unplanned hospitalisation and re-addmission, interventions that may reduce hospital stays and interventions that may moderate readdmission.

Length of Publication: 35 pages

Pandemic flu: managing demand and capacity in health care organisations (surge)

Source: Department of Health  

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Date of publication: May 2009

Publication type: Best Practice

In a nutshell: The aim of this guidance is to support NHS and social care organisations to build on their existing preparedness plans and enable clinicians to work within an ethical framework during a pandemic, when there may be a significant increase in demand for care. It contains guidance for primary and secondary care services on managing demand and capacity and the prioritisation of services and patients during an influenza pandemic

This document provides staff with guidance on operational issues around the increase in demand for services, and supporting clinicians with the decision making processes on triaging patients.

Length of publication: 127 pages

Some important notes: This guidance should be used to inform current planning during World Health Organisation (WHO) Phase 3 and to assist in the development of pandemic preparedness plans. It is intended for operational use in the UK once WHO declares Phase 6 and the Department of Health in England (as the UK lead agency for pandemic influenza) declares UK alert level 1.