A new initiative that will help to diagnose a patient’s condition more quickly has been introduced to Derby UTC through providers DHU Healthcare.
Point of Care Testing (PoCT)involves a blood test, analysed by a small machine that can help to exclude certain conditions or causes of illness. Blood test analysis is usually provided at hospitals or pathology labs and can take between one and two hours. The PoCT machines will enable certain tests to be completed at the Derby UTC within 10 to 15 minutes.
It means that clinicians will have a better understanding of a patient’s immediate needs, what initial treatment to provide if any and the best place for them to receive it.
Dr Sole Garcia is DHU’s Clinical Director of Urgent Treatment Centres, she told us: “It’s a model of care that we have in place at our other UTCs and an example of how we are able to share best practice across our sites. It features some important diagnostic tests that have several benefits for the patients, our people and the wider system.
“It enables us to run certain tests to diagnose or exclude serious and urgent conditions such as infection, heart attacks and blood clots. This helps the clinician to reach a quick decision on the next course of action.
“For the patient, it means that we don’t immediately have to send them to a hospital for tests. We will know whether they can be treated at the UTC and sent home, if further treatment is needed at another location within the health system or even if they need to be admitted to hospital for specialised treatment. In the case of the latter, in many instances we can begin the treatment here so there are no delays in care.
“For the wider system, it means patients don’t have to go through A&E for testing, reducing the number of people presenting there. It also means that, should a patient need to attend hospital, the UTC clinician can share details of the consultation with the hospital’s clinical team to make them aware of the treatment plan needed by the patient.
“For our DHU colleagues, it is broadening their skills. We have already trained our Healthcare Assistants to perform these tests and use the PoCT machines, which has expanded their skills and competence.
“Point of Care Testing was something we were very keen to introduce when we took over the running of Derby UTC and we hope that our patients will quickly see the benefits and reassurance that this innovation will bring. It is something that we have used to great effect across our other urgent care settings to help make better decisions for our patients more quickly.”
DHU became the preferred provider for Derby UTC in July 2024 and will lead the service in partnership with Primary Healthcare Derby (PHD) and Derbyshire Community Health Services (DCHS) NHS Foundation Trust. The collaboration pledged to transform patient experience for people requiring immediate treatment for injuries and illness that need urgent, but not emergency care.
Primary Healthcare Derby (PHD)
PHD is a provider for at scale primary care services across Derby City. We focus on population health management, clinical service innovation and improvement, and supporting integrated health and social care of individuals. We are formed by the five Derby City Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and their long-established member GP practices. We work with system partners including DHU and DCHS to optimise the care and well-being of our collective patients.
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS)
DCHS provides specialist NHS community health services to a population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, delivered in community hospitals, health centres, GP practices, schools, care homes and in patients’ own homes. The Trust runs four Urgent Treatment Centres, located at four of its community hospitals: Buxton, Ripley, Ilkeston and Whitworth Hospital, Darley Dale. For more details about DCHS visit: https://dchs.nhs.uk/