New assessment hub live at North Walsham Hospital in norfolk

A Clinical Assessment and Treatment Hub (CATH) has gone live at North Walsham Hospital (Yarmouth Road, North Walsham, NR28 9AP). 

It is open 9am – 6pm, seven days a week. 

The hub is designed to support the EOC GP clinical triage line that is currently running in the Trust.

If your patient is registered with a GP surgery in the North Norfolk CCG area then they may be able to access care from the hub. The hub is staffed by an emergency care practitioner (ECP), healthcare assistant (HCA) and general practitioner (GP), and will look to provide the right treatment for the patient in the right place - in line with the NHS Five Year Forward View.

If you are on scene with a patient who needs a face-to-face assessment, but not at A&E, then please call the GP in EOC to discuss suitability for attendance at the CATH (if the patient is unable to see their own GP).

This service might also be suitable for patients who require a short period of observation and treatment. If you aren’t sure, then please contact the GP in EOC to discuss.

To gain access to the CATH then the patient must: 

• be registered with a North Norfolk CCG GP practice
• have a condition or presentation that is suitable for primary care, and NOT an emergency condition, i.e. stroke, major trauma or heart attack.

 To utilise this option and access the CATH, please call the GP triage line on 01603 269897 as normal to discuss. 

It’s hoped this project will provide more appropriate care pathways for patients, and allow our staff to work more closely with our GP colleagues. 

If you have any questions, please contact clinical.leads@eastamb.nhs.uk.