Management of non-urgent paediatric emergency department attendances by GPs: a retrospective observational study


Leigh, Simon, Mehta, Bimal, Dummer, Lillian, Aird, Harriet, McSorley, Sinead, Oseyenum, Venessa, Cumbers, Anna, Ryan, Mary, Edwardson, Karl, Johnston, Phil et al (show 5 more authors) (2021) Management of non-urgent paediatric emergency department attendances by GPs: a retrospective observational study. BRITISH JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE, 71 (702). E22-E30.

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Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Non-urgent emergency department (ED) attendances are common among children. Primary care management may not only be more clinically appropriate, but may also improve patient experience and be more cost-effective.<h4>Aim</h4>To determine the impact on admissions, waiting times, antibiotic prescribing, and treatment costs of integrating a GP into a paediatric ED.<h4>Design and setting</h4>Retrospective cohort study explored non-urgent ED presentations in a paediatric ED in north-west England.<h4>Method</h4>From 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2017, a GP was situated in the ED from 2.00 pm until 10.00 pm, 7 days a week. All children triaged as 'green' using the Manchester Triage System (non-urgent) were considered to be 'GP appropriate'. In cases of GP non-availability, children considered non-urgent were managed by ED staff. Clinical and operational outcomes, as well as the healthcare costs of children managed by GPs and ED staff across the same timeframe over a 2-year period were compared.<h4>Results</h4>Of 115 000 children attending the ED over the study period, a complete set of data were available for 13 099 categorised as 'GP appropriate'; of these, 8404 (64.2%) were managed by GPs and 4695 (35.8%) by ED staff. Median duration of ED stay was 39 min (interquartile range [IQR] 16-108 min) in the GP group and 165 min (IQR 104-222 min) in the ED group (<i>P</i><0.001). Children in the GP group were less likely to be admitted as inpatients (odds ratio [OR] 0.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13 to 0.20) and less likely to wait >4 hours before being admitted or discharged (OR 0.11; 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.13), but were more likely to receive antibiotics (OR 1.42; 95% CI = 1.27 to 1.58). Treatment costs were 18.4% lower in the group managed by the GP (<i>P</i><0.0001).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Given the rising demand for children's emergency services, GP in ED care models may improve the management of non-urgent ED presentations. However, further research that incorporates causative study designs is required.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: antibiotics, cost-effectiveness, emergency care, paediatrics, primary care
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 09 Nov 2020 09:08
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 23:23
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp20X713885
Open Access URL: https://bjgp.org/content/bjgp/early/2020/11/30/bjg...
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3106173
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