Groundbreaking mobile critical care service celebrates 3000th referral
A groundbreaking service – set up to transport critically-ill adult patients across the country – is celebrating its 3000th referral, after marking its first year of operation.
ACCESS London (Adult Critical Care Emergency Support Service) is a partnership of Barts Health NHS Trust, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and the London Ambulance Service (LAS).
Since its launch on 1 April 2023 , ACCESS has received 3,065 referrals and completed 2,532 transfers. The threshold of 3000 referrals was reached last week.
ACCESS deploys a fleet of specialist ambulances which are on standby across the capital so that the sickest patients who need expertly-tailored care can be safely moved between hospitals.
The vehicles are staffed by expert critical care clinicians and carry advanced equipment including ventilators and specialist monitors, so they effectively act as a network of mobile intensive care units.
ACCESS is able to facilitate complex moves spanning the entire UK. Furthermore, in January 2024 the service expanded to a 24/7 operation, ahead of schedule.
Dr Mamoun Abu-Habsa, Clinical Director for ACCESS and a Consultant in Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, said: “We are immensely proud of the collaborative working that enabled ACCESS to be such a resounding success and transformative capability for critically ill patients across the capital. Clinical excellence will remain at the centre of our vision as we embark on service development in our second year.”
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