NHS Pathways

Question 1

What is NHS pathways

Answer 1

Series of pathways that link clinical questions and care advice, leading to clinical end points.

non clinical advisors are presented with a series of questions that are asked in a clinically hierarchical way, based on the answers given, the most appropriate clinical response is reached.

The system is broken down into 3 modules

Question 2

Module 0

Answer 2

Consists of the entry pathway

Emergency situations are dealt with first
• consciousness
• breathing
• chocking
• fitting
• commonly occurring serious conditions ( heart attack, stroke, anaphylaxis)

If the symptoms assessed in module 0 are sufficiently serious this will trigger the dispatch of an emergency ambulance

Module 0 rules all some but no all life threatening conditions, once these have been ruled out the health advisor reaches module 1

Question 3

Module 1

Answer 3

Starts with a body map relevant to the age and gender of the patient

Pathways relating to the body area or body systems are available and selected determined by the callers report of the main or worse symptom.

Where there is no single main or worst symptom the non clinical health advisor should seek clinical advice.

The system will then present various questions until either:
• an endpoint is reached
• the call is ended early
• the call is handed to the clinician

Question 4

Module 2

Answer 4

Is only accessible to trained in house clinicians, when calls become too complex for non clinical health advisors to safely triage

This is an essential risk management tool.