Who we are?
In February 2016 following a successful tender submission, Allied Admissions became the exclusive provider of Assisted Admissions Services to the HSE in Ireland. Allied Admissions is a specialist division of Servisource Healthcare Limited who in turn are part of CPL Resources Plc the largest staffing and Managed Services provider in the country. The service is operated on a nationwide basis.
What we do?
We operate a specialised patient transport service on behalf of the HSE in compliance with the Mental Health Act 2001. The team is Psychiatric Nurse led and is generally made up of four highly skilled clinical professionals. All team members are approved as Authorised Persons by the Clinical Director of each approved centre and are specially trained in assisted admissions.
Completed a number of international transfers, in co-operation with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the Aer Corp
What we do?
From 2016 to date, we have completed over 3500 admissions, which include s.13 admissions, s.27 returns, s.25 CAMHs admissions and s.20 transfers from one approved centre to another.
Among these are a number of international transfers, in co-operation with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the Aer Corp which involve coordinating the support and assistance of authorities in foreign jurisdictions to ensure a seamless transfer.
Standards of Patient Centred Care
The fundamental principles of the service are based around the commencement of treatment at the point of contact with the service user. Our highly skilled staff are trained in specific skills around negotiation and dialogue which means that each team member employs the highest levels of empathy and care.
The service is the only such service in the world to be accredited to Joint Commission International Standards (JCI) and operates to ISO 9000:2015 standards in terms of its systems and processes.
Accredited to Joint Commission International Standards (JCI)
Allied Admissions adopts the standards as set out in Code of Practice of the Mental Health Commission on the Admission, Transfer and Discharge of service users to and from an approved centre. Our core objectives are to promote, encourage and foster high standards and good practice in the delivery of the Assisted Admissions service.
The service is conducted in accordance with the HSE’s policy on Assisted Admissions and the Memorandum of understanding between the HSE and An Garda Siochana on assisted admissions and returns.
Conducted in accordance with the HSE’s policy on Assisted Admissions and the Memorandum of understanding between the HSE and An Garda Siochana
Technology and Resources
Our vehicles have state of the art computer aided dispatch capability to ensure accurate and efficient call out response. Each vehicle is tracked and is equipped with emergency medical equipment including emergency lighting, ergonomically designed seating, safety screens and an on-board interface which is encrypted but allows the operator access to file notes and real time information. Details of the deployment are recorded in real-time for audit purposes.
Vehicles
These specially adapted vehicles operate from locations in Dublin, Cork and Galway. Each vehicle is unmarked and designed to suit the service and is fully equipped to ensure the safety and comfort of both the service user and the team members.
The use of technology also allows the teams to make accurate risk assessments and amend these as required, this informs all stakeholders and facilitates clear and decisive decision making. The system also facilitates the collation of statistics and enables accurate reporting on a number of variables.
this informs all stakeholders and facilitates clear and decisive decision making
What is the Process?
The service operates on a 24/7 basis but is not an emergency service. We are obliged to provide a response within a 24 hour period of receipt of the request for an admission, with 70% of the cases completed within 6 hours of receipt of the appropriately completed forms. This is facilitated by access to trained teams around the country.
The rights of the service user are always respected and upheld.
The team is dispatched following a request by the Clinical Director /Consultant Psychiatrist of the Approved Centre according to the below pathway;
… When making a decision about the care and treatment of a person, due regard shall be given to the need to respect the right of the person to dignity, bodily integrity, privacy and autonomy …
In Conclusion
Allied Admissions operate a policy of open disclosure and all incidents must be reported, including near misses where they occur. The standard and ethos of an assisted admission is that it is conducted in a sensitive manner and the dignity of the individual is protected.
Where possible the process is planned in advance with the relevant stakeholders however in an emergency the Allied Admissions are in a position to offer ‘an as-and-when-required’ service within 24 hours or less.
From the initial contact with the service right through the admission, contact is maintained with the team in charge of the Assisted Admission of the Approved Centre so that at every step the care of the service user as central to our focus.