Greater Manchester Clinical Assessment Service

Greater Manchester Clinical Assessment Service A clinical assessment service (CAS) is an intermediate service that allows for a greater level of clinical expertise in assessing a patient than would normally be expected of a referring clinician (such as a GP) (NHS Digital). The GM CAS is a well-established concept nationally and was successfully developed and tested within Greater Manchester (GM) in March 2019 to initially manage lower acuity 999 calls. The GM CAS delivers two distinct yet compatible elements of provision; low acuity category 3 & 4 calls and fulfils the national requirement to implement 111 First from December 2020, which includes the clinical assessment of patients and the subsequent streaming to a range of services with scheduled arrival times to ED when required. The aims and objectives of introducing the GM CAS model to all GM localities and their populations are: • A reduction in ED self-presenter attendances at all sites • Single consistent GM delivery model • Protection of primary care capacity • Manages current risks and limitations of GP Connect • A reduction in ED self-presenter attendances at all sites • Single consistent GM delivery model • Protection of primary care capacity • Manages current risks and limitations of GP Connect • Improved safety through early access to senior clinical advice • Greater economy of scale through provision of a GM CAS • Improved ability to measure outcomes and demonstrate achievement of GM UEC programme aims • Improved patient experience of accessing urgent care services • Ability for CASs to be delivered remotely (i.e. home working) provides added staffing resilience during COVID pandemic crisis.