Revision of professional roles and quality improvement

Source: The Health Foundation

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Date of publication: February 2010

Publication Type: Report

In a nutshell: Report addresses the question of whether non-physician clinicians (without a medical degree) working as substitutes to or supplements to  clinically trained physicians effects quality of care outcomes using a best evidence approach.  Paramedics are included in the non-physician group.  The report concludes that in specifically defined areas quality of care is maintained and in some cases improved.

Length of publication: 122 pages

What’s New in Emergency Pre-hospital Care Research?

Source: Emergency Medicine Journal, 2009, 26 (10), p. 747 – 478.

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: Posters and summaries of papers delivered at What’s New in Emergency Pre-hospital Care Research? a 2008 conference organised by 999 EMS Research Forum in collaboration with University of Sheffield and The National Ambulance Research Steering Group. Papers cover current research in areas of paramedic practice.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Some important notes: Contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

What are the highest priorities for research in emergency prehospital care

Source: Emergency Medicine Journal, 26 (8), 549-550

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Date of publication: August 2009

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell:  The Department of Health (UK) recommended in Taking healthcare to the patient: Transforming NHS ambulance services that it should commission a programme of work to build the evidence base for prehospital and out of hospital care. The 999 EMS Research Forum was commissioned to identify gaps in the evidence base and priority areas for research. This paper summarises the report, identifying the top 10 priority topics for research and and three broad areas for priority research.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Medical and prehospital care training in UK fire and rescue services

 Source: Emergency Medicine Journal 2009, 26 (8) p. 601-603

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Date of publication: August 2009

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: A survey of medical training for Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) in the UK, to understand the level of medical training given to fire fighters. Results indicate that 66% of Fire and rescue services train fire fighters beyond the minimum standards required for casualty stabilisation. However, training varies across the UK. Authors call for a national standard to define a common set of medical competencies for training to be created in partnership with Chief Fire Officers’ Association.

Length of publication: 3 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Prehospital care. Sepsis: a need for prehospital intervention

Source: Emergency Medicine Journal 2009; 26: 535-538.

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Date of publication: July 2009

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: Article aimed at pre hospital care managers, researchers and practitioners. The authors note the improving pre hospital care for patients with critical conditions (acute coronary syndrome, multiple trauma and stroke) and identify patients with sepsis as another group who would benefit from timely pre hospital care. They recommend the implementation of a screening tool and guidelines for pre hospital staff (The Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee do not currently have guidelines for server sepsis) informed by more research. Greater awareness of sever sepsis is needed in training pre hospital practitioners. Interventions in the pre hospital setting for severe sepsis can significantly improve patient outcomes.

Length of publication: 3 pages

Some important notes: An NHS Athens password is required to access the full text of this article.  Please contact your local NHS library for further details – follow this link to find your local NHS Library

An evaluation of the accuracy and safety of NHS Pathways

Source: Parliament 

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Date of Publication: June 2008 (published online June 2009)

Publication Type: Research

In a nutshell: Report that assesses the robustness, performance, accuracy, efficiency and safety of the NHS Pathways trial with North East Ambulance Service. NHS Pathways refers callers to the Ambulance service to relevant alternative care providers if appropriate, reducing the number of Category A (8 minute response calls). The report concluded that NHS Pathways was at least as safe as current call assessment and prioritisation processes. The study informed the Department of Health’s decision to allow Ambulance services across the UK to adopt NHS Pathways, announced in the February 2009.

Length of publication: 130 pages

Some important notes: E-Health Insider reports the original announcement from The Department of Health on NHS Pathways.

Acknowledgements: Turner , J., Lattimer, V. and Snooks, H., 2008. An evaluation of the accuracy and safety of NHS Pathways. London: Commissioned by The Department of Health from The Medical Care Research Unit at the University of Sheffield in collaboration with the University of Southampton and Swansea University.

Emergency Department Survey 2008

Source: Care Quality Commission 

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Date of publication: January 2009

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: This survey asked about the experiences of people who have visited an emergency department.  This is the third survey of emergency departments with just under 50,000 people taking part, a response rate of 40%.  The results and findings of this survey are presented on this website with comparisons from previous surveys.

The survey offers an insight into the experiences of patients. The questions in the survey cover the issues that patients consider to be important in their care.

Length of publication: Web page