A new way of dealing with people who arrive at hospitals is being piloted at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley hospitals has been praised by a patient representative.
Russ McLean, of the Patient Voices Group, has been impressed by the ‘deflection’ scheme at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, and said it should be rolled out nationwide.
The trial has seen senior nurses providing an initial assessment of patients seeking emergency or urgent care.
The nurses can then direct the patient to see their GP or other service, if appropriate.
However, they can only advise the patient and cannot refuse them access to the hospital services.
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