Objective

• To model the implications of implementing a matrix for ambulance patient allocation (‘the matrix’) on the Ambulance Service, patients and receiving hospitals.
  

Methodology

• Analysis of current patient referral and specialty profile. A model was developed to determine future hospital workload, threshold breaking frequencies, number of patients diverted and the impact on ambulance performance.
  

Outcomes

• Results showed impact on time to hospital, emergency response performance, patients flows and diversions
• Threshold levels at four hospitals required changing to meet the objectives set.