WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS TRUST
Protocol for the referral of low acuity 999 patients to Singleton Hospital SAU:
Key Principles (paramedics only):
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Attend emergency
999 call
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Obtain patient
history and full set
of observations
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Medical cases referred by GPs within Swansea and Neath / Port Talbot Localities will
primarily be admitted to Singleton Hospital SAU.
Emergency 999 patients will primarily be admitted to Morriston Hospital ED.
Low acuity 999 patients, as defined below, can be admitted to Singleton Hospital SAU
following discussion with the on-call medical registrar at Singleton Hospital.
Service operates between 09.00-22.00 hrs.
Paramedic contact Singleton Hospital switchboard on 01792 285000 and asked for the
on-call medical registrar to be bleeped.
The paramedic will then discuss the patients current condition with full set of
observations and past medical history.
Examples of patient conditions suitable for SAU:
Determine suitable
condition for SAU
Contact on-call
medical registrar
No capacity at
Singleton
Hospital
Admission
accepted
01792 285000
On-call registrar
doesn’t consider
clinical
appropriate
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On-call medical registrar refusal to accept patient:
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Morriston Hospital
ED
Morriston
Hospital ED
Singleton Hospital
SAU
Morriston Hospital
ED Consultant
Mon to Fri 09.0017.00 for advice
Alert phone 01792 795742 Shift coordinator 01792 703420 / 3422
(ask to speak to ED Consultant)
Patients who have taken a drugs overdose with a normal conscious level.
Breathlessness.
Transient loss of consciousness.
Seizures.
Falls and funny turns if no evidence of trauma.
Headache.
Diabetic emergencies – hypo & hyperglycaemia.
Palpitations.
Diarrhoea or vomiting.
Chest pain (non trauma and with the exclusion of ST elevation following a 12 lead ECG).
Chest infection and pneumonia.
Acute confusion / delirium.
Suspected sepsis.
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Issues of hospital capacity.
The on-call medical registrar does not consider the patient to be clinically appropriate to
be admitted direct to the SAU.
In such circumstances the paramedic can contact the Morriston ED duty Consultant for
advice between 09.00-17.00 hrs on numbers listed in flowchart..
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NB If a patient previously accepted by Singleton has an adverse change in their
condition since seen by the GP a discussion must take place with the
on-call medical registrar prior to deciding to convey to Morriston Hospital.