Tackling ED overcrowding with point of care testing

Delivering fast, high-quality care for the record numbers of patients attending emergency departments is a key challenge for NHS hospitals across England. Clare Bailey, from the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University  Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) describes how the use of point of care  testing for a range of indications has led to faster diagnoses and  improved patient experience at Queen’s hospital.

In 2017/18, there were 2.3 million emergency department (ED) attendances in England. This number has been rapidly increasing, leading to pressure on EDs in meeting targets for key performance indicators, such as the constitutional patient waiting times, as well as overcoming challenges in managing budgets. 

Queen’s Hospital in Romford is part of BHRUT. The Queen’s ED typically sees 400 patients per day, peaking at 550 (184,900 patient attendances in 2018/19) and has more blue light calls than any other Trust in London. In 2018/19, it had 49,370 ambulance attendances, representing 16% growth. However, a high proportion of conveyed people were discharged the same day.