Paramedics on e-bikes will help deliver flu vaccinations in the London borough of Merton to help reduce pressure on GPs this winter.
In a new six-month pilot scheme, 12 London Ambulance Service paramedics will support Merton Health, a collective of six Primary Care Networks (PCN) made up of local GP practices. Each PCN will be assigned two paramedics to deliver this season’s flu vaccinations.
The paramedics will work on rotation and help assess and treat those with long-term conditions, recently discharged patients and those with coronavirus.
They will also work with GPs to refer patients to the most appropriate follow-up care and assist with care plans.
Khadir Meer, chief operating officer at London Ambulance Service, said: “Winter is an extremely busy time for our health service and with the exceptional year we have had, we hope this pilot will help relieve pressure on GP surgeries and ensure ambulances go where they are most needed.
“Nobody wants to go to hospital unless they have to and with finite resources, our highly-skilled clinicians are well placed to assess whether patients need care at home or if hospital treatment is required.
London Ambulance Service said the pilot will support the NHS’s long-term plan of providing integrated care to patients within the community, with the paramedics set to treat more patients at home.
Mariam Ganesaratnam, chief executive officer of Merton Health, said: “With pressures building in general practice and A&Es and our hospitals seeing an increase in admissions, we have been pulling out the stops to ensure that we are prepared for winter and that our teams are resilient.
“I have had the pleasure of working with London Ambulance Service paramedics on the frontline and we believe that this new service will bring significant benefits to our networks, practices and our patients.
“These paramedics will be vital to relieving winter pressures and will be a real asset to Primary Care Networks in Merton.”
The pilot is expected to run until April 2021 and is subject to evaluation. London Ambulance Service said it hopes the scheme will become a permanent feature, with further expansion across London planned.
