How does provision of emergency healthcare impact on carers?

This paper represents a component of a larger study evaluating the paramedic practitioner in older people’s support (PPOPS) scheme. This service was designed to provide community-based clinical assessment (and treatment where appropriate) of older people with minor acute conditions in an attempt to reduce unnecessary transfer to the emergency department (ED).

The researchers wanted to examine the impact on carers of a patient having a minor acute health episode (MAHE), and the effect of the PPOPS scheme on the carer as opposed to the standard service comprising a 999 ambulance response and transfer to ED. A postal questionnaire was distributed to 561 carers (PPOPS n=329; standard service n=232) to gain information about levels of care provided by the carer to the patient before and after the MAHE, satisfaction of care provided during the MAHE; and the impact on the carer of the MAHE. The response rate to the questionnaire was 71.5% (234 PPOPS; 167 standard service).