New Ambulance Quality Indicators provide comprehensive analysis of patients’ care and experience
The first full set of data measuring clinical care, operational efficiency and patient experience provided by the Welsh Ambulance Service will be published later today (Wednesday January 27th).
The data links the ambulance service with the wider healthcare system and targets areas for improvement.
The 24 Ambulance Quality Indicators (AQIs) will track the new five step model – launched in October 2015 – which ensures that patients receive the right care at the right time and may not involve dispatching an ambulance.
The system is now designed to ensure that ambulances are dispatched to calls where there is an immediate need to save life or provide treatment. For other less serious cases alternative treatments such as referrals to other parts of the NHS or telephone advice will be provided.
The pathway is intended to ensure the ambulance service is providing the right response for a patient dependent on their clinical need.
Instead of just measuring time, the 24 AQIs will measure clinical care, appropriate interventions and the patient’s experience.
The information will be published independently by the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee (EASC) every quarter and will include data on:
- The percentage of patients who received the appropriate ‘care bundle’ after having a heart attack caused by a blood clot in the heart.
- The performance of ambulance staff in providing pain relief to patients with a suspected hip fracture.
- Handover times at hospitals
- How often the ambulance service manages patient needs over the telephone
- The percentage of patients with suspected stroke who receive the appropriate assessments and treatment before getting to hospital
- Number of responses by Community First Responders
- Number of incidents that resulted in patients being treated at scene by the ambulance crew
- The number of incidents generated by frequent callers
Source: Cwm Taf University Health Board
