HealthInfo Canterbury
Managing your urgent care at home
In Canterbury, we have a programme specifically to help treat people in their own home, and prevent them from becoming so unwell they have to go to hospital. This programme is called Acute Demand (Also Acute Demand Management Services, or ADMS).
Who receives Acute Demand care?
An acute condition is one that comes on quickly. So this service is for people who suddenly become unwell, but can safely get the treatment or tests they need without having to go to hospital.
For example, some people with cellulitis, DVT, chest pain, pneumonia, COPD, migraine, pyelonephritis (kidney infection), and dehydration may get this care.
If you become unwell but can safely be treated outside hospital your GP may refer you to Acute Demand. A member of the Acute Demand team will then contact you to explain what care is available to you.
Your own GP will continue to look after you while you are receiving care under Acute Demand.
What sort of care does it provide?
Acute Demand brings together many different services to support your GP and offer you care at home.
By working together, they can provide:
- up to five days of treatment
- nursing care in your own home, or in another setting outside of the hospital, such as a rest home or GP practice
- observation and assessment, which might be at your GP surgery or at the 24-Hour Surgery observation unit, for people with conditions such as migraine, vomiting, asthma, or dehydration
- quick access to blood tests, some X-rays, and some ultrasounds.
Sometimes people who receive Acute Demand care will need to go to hospital because they become too ill. If this happens the Acute Demand team and your own GP will contact the hospital to refer you.
Why does it matter?
Acute Demand makes it possible for people to get the urgent care they need, without going to hospital. It also frees up the hospital Emergency Department to deal with emergencies.
Written by Acute Demand medical officer, Canterbury DHB. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Updated August 2017.
Review key: HIADS-15354
