Can safety-netting be improved in ambulance services?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How do paramedics communicate safety-netting advice and can it be improved?
IRAS ID
237314
Contact name
Kim Kirby
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
Safety netting is a term used to describe the practice by clinicians, including paramedics where advice is given to patients or their relatives or carers when they are discharged from their care. Safety netting advice may include advice on ongoing self care, what to do if their symptoms worsen or change and how best to access further medical help if required.
Safety netting practices in ambulance services are not well understood. Over time paramedics are discharging more and more of the patients accessing the 999 system into self care, or referring patients onto other healthcare providers. Safety netting is an important aspect of paramedic patient care, but more research is needed to understand how clinicians can best safety net patients in a way that is effective for patients and their carers, as well as ambulance staff and the wider NHS.
This research proposal seeks to explore safety netting practices in South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASfT), to explore the requirements of ambulance staff, patients and their carers and to explore what improvements can be made to safety netting practice. The study will involve patients and the public in discussions. A discussion group will be held with patient representatives to understand patients' needs in relation to safety netting. in addition ambulance service clinicians will be observed to explore current safety netting practice and explore if there are any improvements that can be made to current practice.
The findings from this exploratory research will be used to assemble an appropriate research team and to design a research application for NIHR RfPB that aims to optimise safety netting in ambulance services for the benefit of patients, ambulance staff and the NHS.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0048
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion