THE region’s ambulance service is calling on doctors to join its operations centre in a bid to reduce demand on the emergency care system.
North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) is offering GPs the chance to work within its clinical hub in order to provide a better service to patients.
The clinical hub provides enhanced clinical support to call handlers and patients, offering access to a range of healthcare professionals and clinical assessment to patients who have contacted the NHS 111 service.
NEAS is now expanding the service to offer 111 patients the support of a GP.
An NHS 111 caller who requires advice from a GP could be treated and discharged over the phone avoiding the need to attend another service.
GP Dr Mathew Beattie, urgent care medical director at NEAS, said: “This expansion will give GPs the opportunity to work with paramedics, nurses and a range of healthcare professionals outside of the normal GP environment to share learning and experiences.
“Having GPs in our operations centre has the potential to offer a much smoother experience to healthcare over the telephone or referral to another NHS provider in a timely manner.”
For more information about the NEAS clinical hub visit www.neas.nhs.uk and to apply for a job visit www.jobs.nhs.uk
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