Rapid Access

You are here : Home

Rapid Access

Specialist Assessment for Older People

Written by Rapid Access Team

The Rapid Access Centre (RAC) at Ashford Hospital is a service providing a holistic geriatrician assessment, diagnostics and treatment plan, primarily for older people in the local community.

Providing a one-stop assessment with access to diagnostics model is a key priority for the NHS by improving patient flow, avoiding inappropriate admission to secondary care and integrating primary, community and social services.

Function

The main function of the centre is to proactively diagnose and treat patients deemed to be at risk of requiring emergency admission to A&E.

The RAC will

Provide specialist assessment of older people within 72 hours of a possible deterioration of a medical problem, to prevent admission into acute hospital.
Prevent/reduce multiple visits to hospital by providing a one stop medical, diagnostic workup and multidisciplinary assessment.
Reduce bottlenecks by freeing up urgent slots in outpatients clinics.
Improve patient satisfaction by keeping older people services local.
Enable older people to maximise their independence and prevent premature entry into long-term care.

Referral Criteria

Patients who meet the following criteria will be assessed in the RAC:

Patients needing assessment and proactive treatment to prevent further decline or exacerbation.
Patients who have suffered recent, or repetitive falls.
TIAs or minor stroke.
Frail elderly with a decline in function.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who meet the following criteria will not be assessed in the RAC: