Using data and simulation to redesign how patients are admitted to hospital for urgent care.
Emergency admissions are a growing challenge for hospitals, often leading to overcrowded emergency departments and long ambulance waits. This project uses hospital and ambulance service data, combined with simulation modelling, to explore how patient flow through acute admission pathways can be improved. Working with senior NHS leaders, the project has already supported the implementation of a new Medical Resourcing Unit at University Hospitals Plymouth—designed to ease pressure on the emergency department and improve patient experience.
Aims:
- To use simulation modelling to understand current acute care admission pathways.
- To test alternative models for patient flow, including direct-to-unit admissions.
- To support real-world implementation, such as the new Medical Resourcing Unit.
- To share learning with national stakeholders including the Society for Acute Medicine and DHSC to inform wider system change.