The Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) service within the Emergency Departments has recently been expanded to meet the increase in patient demand.
In total there are 24 ENP’s across the Eastbourne and Hastings sites working in the main areas of the Emergency Departments (13 at Eastbourne and 11 at Hastings). This includes 3 full time ENP’s on each site covering the hours of 8am to midnight 7 days a week.
ENP’s are experienced emergency care nurses with advanced skills and knowledge to treat patients independently, they have the additional qualifications to assess, treat and manage patients attending the Emergency departments with minor injuries and illness. The ENP’s are able to request and interpret diagnostics such as x-rays and blood tests in order to diagnose and treat their patients.
Amy Collis Clinical Service Manager said: “The development of the ENP service has been a huge success and is instrumental to patient flow through the department. It has had a significant impact on patient experience which has been demonstrated by the positive written and verbal feedback received.”
Both Emergency Departments have a dedicated area for the service to run from. At Eastbourne this consists of 5 cubicles with a selection of trolleys and chairs. This has made a huge impact on flow as ambulances are able to offload patients directly to the ENP area treated as appropriate. Whilst at Hastings there are two treatment cubicles.
Between March and June 2016, over 30% of all Emergency Department attendances were seen, treated and discharged by the expanded ENP service.
The ENP team are also now able to run clinics and support the consultants with review clinics in a dedicated area ensuring cubicles within the main department are available for acutely unwell patients. The ENP’s are extremely knowledgeable and keen to share their experience and skill to support junior doctors and nursing staff which has also been gratefully received.