The Acute Medicine Programme is to be introduced in at least 18 hospitals this year and in all other hospitals next year, according to the Department of Health. Its target is to save 500,000 bed days used (BDUs), which is equivalent to 1,300 beds.
Last year the AMP was introduced in four hospitals in the HSE Dublin North East – Beaumont Hospital, Drogheda Hospital, Cavan Hospital and Navan Hospital. It was implemented in two hospitals in HSE Dublin Mid Leinster – Tallaght Hospital and Mullingar Hospital. It was introduced in five hospitals in HSE South – Kilkenny Hospital, Wexford Hospital, Waterford Hospital, Cork University Hospital and Kerry Hospital – and in one hospital – Galway – in HSE West.
This year it is planned to introduce the AMP in Connolly Hospital, and the Mater Hospital in Dublin, in Tullamore, in St. Vincents’ University Hospital/St. Columcille’s Hospital in Dublin, in the Mercy Hospital in Cork and in South Tipperary Hospital.
In 2012/2013, it is planned to introduce the AMP in Naas, St. James’s, Portlaoise, Mallow, Bantry, Letterkenny, Limerick, Nenagh, Ennis, St. John’s, Sligo, Mayo, Portiuncula and Roscommon hospitals.
The AMP has also developed and introduced a National Early Warning Score (NEWS) which will “track and trigger” a medical response to a deterioration in a patient’s clinical state. This response may include further investigations and treatment and transfer to a more appropriate care setting.
