MORE hospital assessment units look set to be set up to take pressure off struggling A&E departments.

County health managers are bidding to set up an “emergency-multi-disciplinary unit” (EMU) at Oxford’s John Radcliffe and Banbury’s Horton hospitals.

The units are up and running at community hospitals in Abingdon and Witney and assess some patients who may not need admission to hospital.

It is hoped two more EMUs will help embattled A&E workers after the county’s hospital authority recently recorded its worst ever quarterly results.

Our top stories

The move has been broadly welcomed by politicians.

Labour Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “If these proposals can both improve patient care and take pressure off A&E, they are very much to be welcomed. Links with social care will be crucial.”

Conservative Banbury MP Sir Tony Baldry said: “This is an extremely valuable initiative.

“The EMUs in Abingdon and Witney have worked extremely well and in part they are seeking to ensure that those who need medical treatment but who do not need to go to A&E can be properly assessed and given appropriate treatment.”

The move is one of 12 projects that Oxfordshire County Council and NHS bosses hope to spend cash on as part of money given under the government’s “Better Care Fund”.

The EMUs would include beds that are used for up to 72 hours, links with community services such as social care and nursing and follow-up appointments for rehabilitation.

Managers have also pledged to link the EMUs together and use technology such as testing devices in peoples’ homes more to keep them out of hospital.

A plan sent to NHS England this month on how cash will be spent said: “The two existing EMUs in Oxfordshire have a proven track record of providing an alternative to A&E.”

It said the service is “viewed as an essential service by GPs” and £1 million-a-year running costs will get cash from a fall in A&E visits and emergency admissions.

The success of the project will be measured against turnaround times in A&E, for which the trust scored its worst quarterly figures since it was formed in November 2011.

From October to December, 86.1 per cent of patients were discharged, admitted or transferred within four hours of arrival. The target is 95 per cent.

Educating the public on what NHS service to use and when is vital he said, particularly as the EMUs will be at the hospitals with the county’s two major A&E departments.

In September the Oxford Mail reported the county council and OCCG said meeting targets attached to the Better Care Fund by the government was impossible and instead submitted an overview paper detailing challenges in the county, while still asking for funding.

But a county council report said it has “been required” to produce a plan by January 9, which has been submitted. It expects approval for work to begin in April.

Other schemes include a 50 per cent increase in reablement work in the community; more home nursing care and better support online and on the telephone.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.