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<p>NHS England and NHS Improvement monitor patient safety and work with systems to
manage any potential risks. In 2022/23, an additional £50 million has been invested
in NHS 111 to support increased call taking capacity and ensure that patients can
access urgent care when necessary. NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with
integrated care boards to improve patient flow and reduce ambulance handover delays,
maximising Same Day Emergency Care services and access to Urgent Treatment Centres
as an alternative to accident and emergency where appropriate.</p><p>In Slough, funding
for 17 intermediate adult social care beds has been extended to June 2022 and an additional
20 bed community ward at Heathlands Heathwood Hospital has been created. An immediate
ambulance handover policy is also in place at hospitals in Slough and capacity to
accept paramedic handovers increased by 30%.</p><p>In the South East, Urgent Treatment
Centres and Same Day Emergency Care provision is being developed to ensure alternatives
to emergency departments are available at acute sites. This is addition to engaging
system partners to alleviate pressures through urgent community response, developing
virtual wards, enhanced health care in care homes and bringing together local health
systems to reduce length of stay and increase discharges.</p><p> </p>
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