More patients are likely to be referred or taken to their family doctors by ambulance staff under a new initiative that aims to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate healthcare for their condition.

The trail-blazing eight-week trial funded by the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation is the first initiative of its type in the central North Island.

The trial, which began just before Easter, involves four senior nurses from the WBOP PHO's Health and Wellness Services centre on 1st Ave partnering with St John staff to help assess the healthcare needs of people who phone for an ambulance.

Those patients who have serious conditions requiring treatment in the Emergency Department will be taken to hospital by ambulance, as usual.

However, patients with certain non-urgent conditions that are best treated by family doctors will be referred or taken to their general practice instead, after the nurse and ambulance personnel have phoned ahead to ensure that a doctor is available.

WBOP PHO services leader Philippa Jones says the new scheme has many benefits for patients.

'Foremost among these is the continuity of care that comes from family doctors knowing the medical histories of their patients and what medications they are already taking,” she says.

'Such knowledge is not always available to hospital staff, and this means that family doctors are often best-placed to make decisions about their patients' healthcare.”

Philippa says patient safety is paramount and people will only be taken to their family doctors when that is deemed to be the best course of action.

Examples of conditions that could prompt family doctor visits include falls, dehydration caused by diarrhoea or vomiting, skin conditions such as lower leg cellulitis, some conditions related to diabetes, and simple fractures.

WBOP PHO services leader Philippa Jones and St John territory manager Ross Clarke. Supplied photo.

Visits to the hospital's emergency department are generally free, and for that reason the WBOP PHO has provided funding to ensure that most people diverted to their family doctors will not have to pay for the GP visit.

St John ambulance fees will apply in the normal way, just as though the patients had been taken to hospital.

St John territory manager Ross Clarke says a small number of patients are already being delivered to general practices, but the trial will add significantly to that number and enable patients with non-urgent conditions to access the right care sooner.

'From what I've observed so far, there is very good integration between St John and WBOP PHO staff,” he says.

'It's all about finding the most appropriate treatment for patients. Having nurses with us is a great help, as they are the experts regarding which primary health services are available within the community.”

Last year, St John ambulances responded to 20,000 calls within the Western Bay and took nearly 13,000 people to Tauranga Hospital's Emergency Department. About 73 per cent of those people were admitted for more than three hours.

The current trial is being used to develop a referral pathway for non-urgent ambulance patients that is expected to become permanent.

Although no estimates have been made about how many patients will be diverted to their family doctors, the WBOP PHO expects that the numbers will be in the thousands each year when the long-term programme is developed.

Such a programme would significantly reduce pressure on the Emergency Department and hospital staff, ensuring Emergency

Department resources are available for patients who need them the most.

The trial covers most of the Western Bay, including Te Puke and Katikati.