Removing telephone call handovers from the patient transfer process

December 17, 2024

To support our commitment to provide high quality care to our patients, one of our strategic objectives is for no patient to remain in hospital longer than is needed for their condition.

As we move further into winter and demand on services increases, many of our patients have long waits in ED whilst waiting for transfer to assessment areas, which means we are unable to support timely offloading of ambulances.

To support a reduction in the time taken, we have decided to remove telephone call handovers from the transfer process. We are also working on early transfers of patients by introducing a “Your Next Patient” approach. Telephone call handovers for transfers for Medicine Group specialities have now stopped.

Once this is established, we will look to remove telephone call handovers in other areas.

Be sure to check out this video featuring Mel Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer talking about removing telephone call handovers from the transfer process.

If you need additional support or have any issues, please contact your line manager.