If you are reading this, you or your family member have been selected as our Continuous Flow patient.
Continuous Flow
This process allows the decompression of the Emergency Department, and releases queued ambulance crews back into the community to assist further people in need.
How does Continuous Flow work?
By sitting out the fittest patient on the ward this allows 5 patients to move along in their inpatient journey.
1: Fit to sit patient
Patient sits out.
2: Assessment unit to ward
Allowing a patient from the assessment unit to move to the appropriate speciality ward.
3: ED cubicle to assessment units
Allowing a patient in the Emergency department cubical to move to the assessment units.
4: Ambulance to ED cubicle
Allowing a patient in the ambulance queue to move into an Emergency Department cubical.
5: Crew released to community patient
Releasing the paramedic crew to attend to the vulnerable patient into the community.
Why are you the Continuous Flow Patient?
As a team, we have selected you as the most medically appropriate patient to sit out.
What happens now?
- If you are medically fit and able, you may be discharged home directly from the ward.
- Transferred to discharge lounge to await further results, medications, letters or transport.
- Fit to sit, you will be moved to our priority ï¬t to sit chair where you will be reviewed by a medical professional and the decision on discharge will be made. If you are unable to be discharged, we will ï¬nd another bed for you as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support
Due to your support
A patient is now able to be moved into this bed to free up space in an assessment unit.
A patient is now able to move from the Emergency Department to the assessment unit.
A patient is now able to be moved from the ambulance queue into a cubical in Emergency Department.
An ambulance is now free to able to attend to a critically ill patient at home.
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the patient experience department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print by emailing: [email protected]