Case studies

These case studies are fictional patients, showing how the Healthcare for London programme aimed to improve health services in London.

Rashid, 23, suffered multiple serious injuries from a motorbike accident

Rashid is taken by ambulance directly to a major trauma unit and is seen by a team of specialists. The ambulance journey takes no more than 45 minutes.

Rashid is later moved to his local hospital for recovery and rehabilitation needs.

Patient benefits:

Rashid is seen by an onsite team of skilled specialists including a neurosurgeon, cardiothoracic surgeon and orthopaedic surgeon
His survival rate increases by 25% because he has access to expert care in one location
He also makes a faster recovery and is later moved to a local hospital for rehabilitation

Valerie, 51, has been suffering from stomach pains

Valerie visits A&E with stomach pains. She is diagnosed with acute appendicitis and admitted. She is later operated on.

Patient benefits:

Valerie is promptly diagnosed with appendicitis at the urgent care centre, which is integrated with the A&E department
This ensures she is triaged as quickly as possible, avoiding a lengthy wait
She is assessed in the surgical assessment unit and is operated on by a skilled surgical team that handles emergency cases only, ensuring better clinical outcomes

John, 64, has poor vision

John visits his local optometrist who diagnoses glaucoma and refers him to the optometry service at his local polyclinic. At the polyclinic John is also diagnosed with macular degeneration and is referred to a specialist eye hospital.

Patient benefits:

Early detection of John’s glaucoma and macular degeneration reduces his chances of going blind;
At the polyclinic he gets advice on his housing needs from council services also based onsite; and
At the specialist hospital he is seen by one of the UK’s top ophthalmologists and has access to groundbreaking treatment.

Tom, 11, has a suspected broken arm

Tom visits his local polyclinic. He is seen without an appointment. He has an X-ray and his arm is put in plaster.

Patient benefits:

Tom avoids a lengthy wait in an A&E department
He is seen by his local GP who is based at the local hospital and has access to X-ray and plaster facilities
He is directly referred to the fracture clinic based within the local hospital, at a time convenient to him

Ida, 72, has suffered a suspected stroke

Ida travels by ambulance, bypassing her local hospital and going straight to the major acute hospital which has a specialist stroke unit. The ambulance journey takes no more than 30 minutes.

Once Ida has received her emergency care, she is transferred to her local hospital for ongoing care and rehabilitation.

Patient benefits:

Ida receives an assessment by a specialist, CT scan and access to thrombolysis (clot-busting drugs) within 30 minutes of arrival at hospital
Thrombolysis treatment stops the impact of stroke and speeds up overall recovery
Three days later Ida is moved to a local stroke unit and is seen by the dedicated stroke rehabilitation team