The Network covers all of Greater Manchester and Central & Eastern Cheshire.
Cardiac Acute Transfer System
The Cardiac Acute Transfer System (CATS) is a web based referral system which aims to resolve some of the problems experienced across the Network with regard to inter-hospital transfers. The issues involved include: sharing information relating to waiting list size and waiting times amongst all the stakeholders, use of resources, how to achieve a single waiting list between the specialist centres and how to ensure patient fitness to transfer and capturing robust data.
CATS has been in existence since September 2005. Since this time all referrals made for non-emergency acute coronary syndrome patients to transfer for tertiary care have been entered onto this system. Electrophysiology and cardiac surgery referrals were introduced onto the system in November 2007.
Since the commencement of CATS, we have been able to:
Capture waiting times across the Network by organisation
Determine referral patterns
Record transfer activity
Record and monitor patient outcomes
Evaluation of improvement work
Referrals come into CATS from the district generals within the Network and from within the tertiary centres. A variety of staff have access to CATS, for example, cardiology consultants, managers, nursing staff, administrative staff and doctors.
In 2008, there were 3,041 ACS referrals, 450 plus cardiac surgery referrals and 250 EP referrals made onto CATS.
CATS is centrally managed by a dedicated team based in Stockport. If you would like any further information on CATS please contact Claire Hatherall.
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www.nhsdirect.co.uk
www.stockport-pct.nhs.uk
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