The technology enabling the ambulance service to deliver care closer to home
18.10.24
THE Welsh Ambulance Service is using new technology to deliver care closer to a patient’s home.
The ‘Luscii’ app captures a patient’s vital signs, including heart rate and blood oxygen levels, and data is sent in real-time to the ambulance control room, where remote care clinicians determine the appropriate next steps in care planning.
That could be a referral to the patient’s GP, self-care advice or dispatching an ambulance resource, if necessary.
It is hoped the technology will help fulfil the Trust’s ambition of providing the right care or advice, in the right place, every time.
Liam Williams, Executive Director of Quality and Nursing at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “At a time of unprecedented demand on the urgent and emergency care system, we need to think differently about the way we deliver ambulance services.
“Patients are waiting far longer than they should for an ambulance, and once at hospital, can spend a considerable amount of time in the ambulance before handover to the emergency department.
“We want to transform the way emergency care is delivered by caring for more patients in their own home where it’s possible to do so, in turn safely reducing the number of patients we take to emergency department.
“To enable our people to deliver the right care or advice, in the right place, every time, we need to equip them with the right tools.
“This technology puts us firmly on that path.”
The Trust is working with the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Centre of Excellence and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to pilot the Luscii technology in a small number of care homes in north Wales.
In the coming months, the Trust will expand the pilot to other parts of Wales and seek to train its volunteer Community Welfare Responders to support patients and service users in using the app when responding to calls in their community.
Liam said: “Community Welfare Responders are key to supporting their local communities, assisting patients at their time of need and ensuring connection with our remote clinicians.
“The use of this technology, coupled with the contributions of Community Welfare Responders, allows us to care for patients in the community over longer periods of time, which will allow our clinicians to arrange the most appropriate care from the right service.”
Chris Lynes, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Deputy Executive Director of Nursing, added: “Luscii fits in with the future of healthcare and we are excited to be involved.
“We believe this app and the support from Community Welfare Responders will lead to better outcomes and fewer people needing to go to hospital.
“It’s about us working together, smarter.
“The majority of healthcare is already delivered within communities, and we know being at home, or near to home is where people want to be.”
The Trust partnered with the Welsh Government-funded SBRI Centre of Excellence to invite industry and academic partners to develop a remote patient monitoring solution.
Welsh Government’s Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy MS, who has responsibility for innovation, technology and digital transformation, said: “I am pleased to see the progress being made by this innovative project that uses cutting-edge technology to help deliver care for patients closer to home.
“By reducing the need for hospital visits, we are alleviating the strain on our healthcare services and staff and minimising the stress and inconvenience for patients and their families, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and a more sustainable healthcare system for all.”
Jonny Sammut, Director of Digital at the Welsh Ambulance Service, added: “Digital systems are the backbone of healthcare delivery, and as technology develops apace, here lies an exciting opportunity to harness the power of data to enhance the service we provide to the people of Wales.
“Our digital capability as an ambulance service is pivotal if we want to realise our ambition of providing the right care or advice, in the right place, every time.
“Through data, we can identify trends, predict needs and allocate resources more efficiently.
“By doing so, we ensure that our services are not only more efficient but also more closely aligned with the specific needs of the communities we serve.
“This data-driven approach, as set out in our new Digital Plan, allows us to continuously improve our services and deliver higher quality care to all patients.”
In April, the Welsh Ambulance Service was awarded University Trust status by Welsh Government in recognition of its commitment to drive innovation and research.