About our rapid response service in Enfield

The Enfield Integrated Rapid Response Service is a nurse-led service which can offer short-term intensive support, including nursing and therapy, following our initial assessment.

We can then also deliver short term social care and work with social services to arrange a longer term package. We will see patients who can be managed in the community but are at risk of admission to hospital in the next 48 hours. 

Operating hours

The service is open from 8am–10pm (last referrals accepted at 8pm) seven days a week, including bank holidays, 365 days of the year. The team will respond within two hours.

Refer a patient

Please speak to a member of the Rapid Response Team. Call the team on 07436 027 882 for clinical advice and discussions. Please do not leave a voice mail. 

Following the call, if the referral is deemed suitable, please send by email a recent medical and medication history, and/or hospital discharge summary to: Enfield.RRT@nhs.net

Eligibility criteria

  • Enfield residents, aged 18+
  • Immediate risk of hospital admission, or
  • Risk of acute deterioration necessitating hospital admission in the next 48 hours

Referral reasons and common conditions covered

  • Asthma
  • Cellulitis
  • Congestive heart failure – where the patient has a National Early Warning Score (NEWS) under 4
  • Dehydration
  • Elderly frail patient who has become symptomatic and at risk of admission (such as sudden reduction in mobility new confusion)
  • Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease where the patient has a NEWS of less than 4
  • Falls without apparent injuries, in particular without hip pain
  • Hypertension
  • Patients at end of life – out of hours and not known to district nurses or palliative care
  • Respiratory tract infection
  • Simple head injury
  • Unstable diabetes (note that Type 1 diabetes isn’t an exclusion)
  • Urinary tract infection, blocked catheter with pain or haematuria from infection

Please note: the above list is not exhaustive, if unsure please telephone the admin office on 020 8702 5681.

Exclusions 

  • Mental health crisis being the sole diagnosis
  • Care package/provision being the sole reason for referral in the absence of acute health/functional decline