Reducing Winter Pressures: How Can The NHS Streamline Patient Intake and Triage Processes?

Access to NHS services in times of critical patient need is arguably the most important functionality for the public sector, regardless of seasonal nuance. 

The biggest threat to this is delays in the patient flow, which have severe consequences for internal processes surrounding new intakes and triage specifically. 

But what are the key aspects that can cripple the patient flow? 

How can Trusts navigate them most effectively to ensure treated patients are discharged responsibly so new patients can be accommodated in a timely manner?  

In this guide, we explore how the incoming pressures of winter can influence these things in particular — highlighting the notable challenges ahead and exploring how these can be resolved with the right investment.

What common NHS pressures affect patient intake? 

You don’t need to be a seasoned healthcare employee to name at least two or three of the most frequent challenges facing the NHS at any given time. There’s more than enough rolling news coverage on what frontline staff have to contend with to keep people informed. 

However, the NHS has already announced plans to prepare for a busy winter period as Trusts brace themselves for the same seasonal pressures. 

But why are those heightened during winter? And crucially, how do these impact patient intake at a significant time of the calendar year for many? 

Seasonal illness and increased demand 

Along with the changing weather, winter brings a wide variety of bugs and illnesses that can often result in hospitalisation for some of the most vulnerable within our communities. 

This ranges from the common cold to more serious conditions. For example, as recently as January this year, the NHS reported an alarming 96% bed occupation due to surging Norovirus and flu cases. 

As you’d expect, service capacity quickly starts to stretch to breaking point due to surging demand — especially from people more likely to have a longer treatment cycle period. 

Therefore, it’s no surprise patient flow can become clogged, which has significant patient intake access implications as well as triage processing consequences for staff.

Overworked staff and process neglect

With slower treatment turnover speeds, the patient flow starts to trickle. 

This isn’t just a consequence of elongated treatment cycles due to individualised winter illness. It’s caused by the bigger picture, which concerns staff and patients in equal measure. 

As patient demand increases, staff capacity reduces. In the context of patient intake and triage, it’s the application and attention to internal processes that suffers. 

Overworked, burnt-out staff are expectedly less effective in managing processes and procedures to a standard that enables a seamless patient flow, especially during winter where there is a likelihood of absenteeism due to staff falling ill themselves.

Bed blocking and outdated systems

As mentioned above, with longer treatment cycles required for some of the more vulnerable patients, bed blocking is somewhat unavoidable to a certain degree. 

However, there are some existing inefficiencies with current NHS systems that make the itch even more difficult to scratch, so to speak. Plus, it’s an itch that can get even more irritable during winter, as you’d expect. 

This relates to two of the most imperative aspects that influence the general patient population flow; discharge and triage. 

Ineffective discharge processes amplify the bed blocking issue no end. Add overworked staff to the equation and it becomes even more difficult to ensure a patient at the end of their cycle can be discharged responsibly, with no unnecessary delay.

On the other hand, the same applies to certain outdated intake processes. Slow triage can hold up the patient flow just as much as a delayed discharge.

Simplifying patient intake and triage

With the pressures of winter to navigate, this is obviously easier said than done. 

However, now you’re familiar with the frequent challenges and how they affect the patient flow, the next step is understanding how they can be resolved, or at least eased. 

Going into winter, this is going to be key for Trusts up and down the country. The government’s new funding pledge for the NHS presents an opportunity to capitalise with investment into new solutions that can support Trusts through the winter and even beyond.  

Enhancing data management

The patient flow is driven by data, so it makes sense to ensure it’s as accessible as ever for staff to monitor patient cycles in real-time. 

Efficient data processing empowers staff at both the triage and discharge stages of the patient journey and can speed things up far more than you might suspect. 

Plus, it can also benefit patients directly. With transparent access to their patient records, those receiving treatment remain informed at all times, which brings a sense of comfort and wellbeing that can aid their recovery.

Improving patient flow

Given what we’ve already discussed, this might sound like more of a broad overarching topic, but there are some basic operational aspects of patient care that can drive more efficient discharging to accommodate better critical intake levels. 

For example, improving bedside functionality and enabling better levels of communication with staff and family members is an obvious way to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of patients at times where demand is stretched to breaking point. 

Finding ways to ensure quality of care isn’t diminished in times of pressure is key to maintaining a steady patient flow without putting too much strain on quick turnarounds for triage.

Reducing administrative burdens

This dovetails with both of the points above. Better data management processes will alleviate the need for outdated admin and paperwork. 

Less need for administrative tasks also lightens the burden on already overworked staff, so they’re more freed up to focus on quality of care. 

Either way, the patient intake process is generally seen as a heavily administrative task in itself, so making it as seamless as possible for motivated staff, empowered to tackle surging demand is absolutely essential.

Tackling NHS pressures head on this winter (and beyond)

With the opportunity to make good on new government investment, the immediate challenge of winter is no doubt already on the radar of Trusts across the UK. 

Now is the best time to equip your Trust with all the knowledge and insights to help you seamlessly navigate winter pressures and emerge as a stronger, more efficient service for patients and staff. 

To help you get started, here’s our free eBook: Five ways to reduce winter pressures on the NHS: Leveraging the power of SPARK Fusion®.

Inside, you’ll find a more comprehensive examination of the challenges we’ve highlighted above. More importantly, you’ll also learn how SPARK Fusion® provides a state-of-the-art solution for each one. 

Access your copy for free today and discover a better way to manage the healthcare journey.