Partnership hears update on success of same-day care pathways at Causeway

A unit at Causeway Hospital that is reducing patients’ waiting times in the Emergency Department and helping them to avoid a hospital stay has exceeded its initial target by more than two-fold in its first year of operation.

The acute ambulatory unit at Causeway opened in April 2024 to provide same day emergency care for suitable patients, delivering timely care and interventions which otherwise may have resulted in a hospital stay or a lengthy wait in ED.

The update on the unit’s performance was provided by Ward Manager Steven Kelly at a recent meeting of the Causeway Hospital Partnership Board.

He told the meeting that when the unit opened last year, the target was to see 160 patients each month. Mr Kelly said that target had been “far exceeded” and that the unit was seeing, on average, more than 400 patients each month.

He said other HSC Trusts were now looking at the success of the model to share learning which is helping with the development of a “whole system approach to ambulatory (same day) care” across the region.

The acute ambulatory unit and a surgical ambulatory unit have both been operational at Causeway Hospital since spring 2024, with transformation around unscheduled care an important focus of the Trust’s Reform North programme.

General Surgery Lead Nurse Maggie Bamford said the hospital’s two ambulatory units signalled a “strategic shift in providing care” but that it was “more than just a model” for delivering care.

“It’s a mindset; it’s about delivering patient-centred, safe care, that gives the patient autonomy, reduces inpatient stays and improves hospital flow,” said Ms Bamford.

“The benefits are a more resilient system and being able to deliver the kind of care that feels better for everyone.”

The Partnership Board was established last autumn with the aim of driving forward the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Vision for Causeway Hospital.

The Board brings together Trust staff and representatives from a number of partner and community organisations including charity and voluntary sector, community transport, service users and local council.

Stabilising the workforce is a key priority within the Trust’s Vision for Causeway.

Speaking at the meeting, Neil Martin, the Trust’s Director of Planning, Performance and ICT, said the Trust had recently appointed two additional consultants to the hospital’s Emergency Department and had successfully recruited a consultant cardiologist.

“This is really welcome news and marks good progress on our commitment to stabilising the workforce at Causeway,” said Mr Martin.

“The recruitment of middle grade doctors means less reliance on locum doctors and that is a very positive development, providing us with a strong platform to build upon as we continue to strengthen our workforce.”

The second meeting of the Board took place as Causeway Hospital celebrated the arrival of an MRI scanner which will give local people access to state-of-the-art diagnostics on their doorstep instead of having to travel to Antrim, when the unit sees its first patients later this month.

The meeting was attended by representatives from a number of Trust services along with representatives from SOS Causeway, Red Cross, North Coast Community Transport, Patient Client Council and service users.

Co-chair and Northern Trust Non-Executive Director Kathy Mackenzie said: “As a Causeway resident myself, I know just how passionate the local community is about their hospital and it is really encouraging to hear the progress that is being made around our Vision for Causeway.

“I’m delighted, too, that we are actively involving our community and voluntary partners because they are key to our success and have an important role in delivering on our vision and ambition for Causeway Hospital.”