What is Total Triage?

You may have read or heard that we are moving to a new way of booking doctor and ANP (Advanced Nurse Practitioner) appointments. You may be wondering what this means.

A total triage appointment booking system can be an effective way to manage patient demand and streamline the process of accessing care. Here’s a brief overview of how this system typically works:

1. Online Form Completion : Patients are encouraged to fill out an online form detailing their symptoms and concerns. You will be able to do this on our website.
2. Telephone Assistance : For patients who may not have internet access or are unable to complete the form online, the admin\reception team can assist by filling out the form over the phone.
3. Triage Process : Once the form is submitted, a clinician reviews the information and assigns a priority level using a RAG (Red-Amber-Green) rating system:
   • Red : Urgent cases that need to be seen on the same day.
   • Amber : Cases that should be addressed within one to two weeks.
   • Green : Routine cases that can wait for the next available appointment.
4. Appointment Booking : Based on the triage outcome, patients are either booked for a face-to-face or telephone consultation, or signposted to alternative services if necessary.
5. Capacity Management : The practice can manage its capacity by switching off access to the triage tool once full capacity is reached, ensuring that urgent cases are prioritised.

This system aims to improve efficiency, reduce waiting times, and ensure that patients receive the appropriate level of care based on their clinical needs.