New MATCH service in north Cumbria diverts 60% of patients away from A&E
The new healthcare service has helped over 2,600 patients in its first seven months.
A new healthcare service based at Wigton Hospital has helped over 2,600 patients in north Cumbria access the right care since its launch in May 2025.
The MATCH service, which stands for Multi-Agency Telephone Coordination Hub, is designed to support care in the community and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. In its first seven months of operation, 60% of all referrals were managed without the patient needing to attend an A&E department.
The MATCH team is made up of a nurse, GP, paramedic, therapist, and administrative support. Initially, referrals were only made by Carlisle-based GPs, but the service quickly extended to include all GPs in north Cumbria as well as the North West Ambulance Service and community departments such as physiotherapy and podiatry.
Improving patient outcomes
Dr Vicky Gate, a GP in acute medicine for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and part of the MATCH team, explained how the service aims to improve outcomes by quickly identifying the best care for patients.
"While some patients need to attend A&E or be admitted to a hospital bed, the majority of patients can be cared for by other services," Dr Gate said.
"MATCH is about exploring the best option for each patient in our multi-disciplinary team. If we can identify where a patient needs to be as early as possible, it leads to better outcomes for that patient.
"This is not about keeping patients out of hospital to free up beds, it is about making sure the patient is in the best place for the care they need. The majority of patients do want to stay at home if they possibly can, and we work closely with our Same Day Emergency Care departments (SDEC) at the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital so patients can be seen, treated, and discharged on the same day where possible."
Reducing risks for vulnerable patients
MATCH collaborates with a wide range of services in the community, including virtual wards, social support, and community hospitals, to deliver tailored care for patients. This approach is particularly beneficial for frail patients who may be at higher risk of falling or contracting infections in a hospital setting.
"We know hospital is not the best place to be if it can be avoided," Dr Gate said.
"The benefit of MATCH is that we have the time to make things come together for a patient and plan their care, we are not also looking after a ward or department full of patients.
"We also have access to that patient’s GP notes, any A&E notes, and we can see the live A&E position so we have that overview of what is happening across our health system."