A SCHEME, which aims to ease A&E and hospital pressures by treating people at home, has been launched.

It will see patients in East Lancashire who ring 999 or NHS 111 potentially treated at home rather than taken in an ambulance to hospital.

So far, a woman who had a fall and another who was feeling unwell, have been cared for by the service.

Known as 'Home First', the scheme involving East Lancashire Hospitals Trust (ELHT), Lancashire Care Foundation Trust and North West Ambulance Service, aims to improve patient access to treatment and prevent unnecessary hospital attendances.

Under the scheme, a patient who rings the ambulance service could be referred to 'Home First', which sees highly-qualified nurses (Advanced nurse practitioners) visit homes and treat people rather than a paramedic.

Although highly-skilled, paramedics cannot take blood and prescribe medications, which could mean people going to hospital or waiting for a GP appointment, while nurses would be able to do these things under the scheme.

And with Royal Blackburn Hospital's emergency department being among the busiest in the country, Tony McDonald, deputy director of operations at ELHT, welcomed the scheme.

He said: “We are delighted to be extending the Home First service, as we believe it is much better for patients who can receive care at home instead of in hospital. Of course, each case will be carefully considered and anyone who requires inpatient care will be admitted to hospital“.

“This is a great example of organisations across Pennine Lancashire working together to provide the best care for residents, in the most appropriate setting.”

Rebekah Gunn, area manager of the urgent care development team at the ambulance service, said: “When a patient is safely treated at home, it can be hugely beneficial. They will get the most appropriate care in an environment that’s comfortable for them, it reduces the need for A&E admissions which can bring infection risks to vulnerable people and it also frees up vital emergency resources.

“By working together with our NHS colleagues to provide a joined up service for patients we are able to give much more streamlined care for their physical, social, emotional or mental health needs," she added.