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Aims Remote clinical decision-making (RCDM), commonly known as 'telephone triage' or 'hear and treat', describes clinicians' non-face-to-face involvement with patient care, and is an established strategy in UK ambulance services for managing increasing demand. However, there is no suitable definition of RCDM that fully explains the roles undertaken by clinicians in 999 hubs, or for its use as an ambulance quality indicator (AQI). The aim of this study, which is part of a larger evaluation of a new RCDM module in higher education, is to determine how clinicians define RCDM. Methods Three participants were asked, during semi-structured interviews, to define RCDM. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Results Clinicians do not focus on outcomes when defining RCDM, but on the efficacy of the process and the appropriateness of the determined outcome. Conclusion There is no precise description of the role of healthcare professionals in 999 clinical hubs, but there is a need for role clarity, for employees and organisations. The study questions the suitability of the definition of hear and treat as an AQI, as it does not appear to represent fully the various duties undertaken by 999 clinical hub healthcare professionals. More research is needed to consider the definition of RCDM in all its forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the outcome of the Mental Health Triage Hub launched in Derbyshire, England, in 2014. Created under the Mental Health Act, the hub offers emergency services to people who call 999 when in crisis. Paramedics have joined police and mental health nurses to improve how emergency services are provided. The mental health nurse or mental health social worker conducts a mental health assessment.

In July, NHS England confirmed that it was expanding trials where patients are encouraged to call 111 before going to emergency departments (EDs), to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section offers news briefs on the 999 emergency services and nurse staffing in Great Britain as of September 2017, including a study which found increased hospital death rates resulting from missed patient care due to nursing staff shortages, a hoax 999 call, and a plan to assess patients calling 999 through video-call technology.

The article cites warning from the Patients Association that deteriorating ambulance response times in England are unacceptable and present a risk to the public.

The article cites calls by a mother whose baby son died of sepsis after missed opportunities across the National Health Services for the 111 hotline service to be staffed solely by clinicians and notes that the boy would probably have survived if a different course of action had been taken.

This section offers news briefs related to emergency nursing in Great Britain as of September 2009. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is planning to create a voluntary quality care standards which will cover diseases such as stroke and dementia. Data from the telephone health line NHS Direct show that one in four callers got a busy message in 2008. Janet Marsden has been named professor of ophthalmology and emergency care at the Manchester Metropolitan University.

Reports on the improvements in the NHS24, a nurse-led telephone helpline in Scotland. Confidence of nursing leaders in the helpline; Introduction of a shift system; Establishment of small centers to enable the employment of nurses from a wider geographical area.

Reports on the recruitment campaign launched by nursing unions in Scotland to support the Scottish National Health Service 24 (NHS24), a nurse-led helpline. Issue on poor management and insufficient piloting at NHS24; Concern of the Scottish Executive on the call-back system of the helpline; Comments of James Kennedy, director of the Royal College of Nursing of Scotland, on the NHS24.