Triage and recognising red flags

The key objective of this web workshop is to help frontline non-clinical staff actively triage and recognise any red flags to help patients access the right care at the earliest opportunity. It is a system of ‘triage’ carried out at the first point of contact with the GP Practice by non-clinical staff under the direction of the clinical team.

Red Flag early recognition of the sick patient is to be encouraged, throughout our healthcare services to ensure the care received is appropriate to the illness. Front-line staff booking in and monitoring busy waiting rooms need the knowledge on recognising the unwell or deteriorating patient to ensure urgent care is summoned if required.

There are numerous drivers for this patient-centred approach and outcomes will include a more streamlined clinical workload, improving efficiencies in terms of access to services and patient satisfaction. It will achieve this by releasing valuable clinical time and resources. Staff will actively manage requests for GP appointments and safely redirect inappropriate consultations to the most appropriate care provider. Applying the RIGHT PERSON RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME approach.

Workshop Audience

This workshop is aimed at GP reception staff and HCAs, who work face to face or via telephone booking patients in or HCAs doing the initial triage/observations. Receptionists and HCAS working in the urgent care setting or walk-in centres may also find this beneficial as they also book patients in and monitor the waiting room.