Health and social care professionals working across Lincolnshire are reminded that they have access to a dedicated, clinically led single point of access (SPA) to escalate challenges with patients who need support and where there seems to be no easy resolution.

The SPA was established last winter by Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) to support clinicians and care workers who have patients that need support in the community, but are not sure which service to refer them to. This would typically be patients who don’t fit easily into the criteria for any one service, but who clearly need help in a timely manner. This could range from moving and handling support to input from community nurses or the IV team, or a combination of them all.

The caller will go through a triage process, and if appropriate they will be put through to speak to a clinician who will take clinical responsibility for the patient. This clinician will make sure the patient gets what they need in a timely manner. This is an improved and enhanced service as previously callers had to wait for a call back from a clinician.

The aim is to stop ‘bouncing’ complex patients around different services and referrals, breaking down barriers and red tape to find a way to offer them the care that they need. It is one of many projects being developed by the Lincolnshire system to reduce pressure on urgent and emergency care services in the county and is being introduced in response to requests from partners for this kind of support.

The clinically-led SPA will be available to all health and social care professionals, including GPs, East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and social care. Also new for this winter is that the service is now open 24 hours a day, seven days per week, with a view to expanding in future if the concept works.

For more information, please view the posters or watch this short video

To access this new service, professionals can call the LCHS ops centre on 0300 1234868 and press option 3 for the SPA.

SPA Posters are avaiable to download for Practice waiting rooms and websites.