Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is introducing a new ‘phone first’ triage system, called CAV 24/7, for people needing urgent care which will signpost the user to the most appropriate service. This will launch on Wednesday 5 August 2020, a week from today.
How will CAV 24/7 work?
Instead of going straight to the Emergency Unit (EU), people will be asked to phone a dedicated telephone number, 0300 10 20 247. This will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This does not replace 999 calls; if people have an emergency that is life-threatening, they should still call 999.
Calls to CAV 24/7 will be taken by a call handler who will take the details and make an initial assessment. A clinician will ring the caller back within 20 minutes if it is classed as urgent, or within an hour if it is less urgent. The caller will then be referred to the most appropriate service; the right place, first time. If that is the Emergency Unit or Minor Injuries services, an appointment will be made for them to attend within a particular timeslot. The CAV 24/7 number will also replace the current GP Out of Hours numbers for both Cardiff and the Vale; the call handler will take the call and follow the same process as they do now for the Out of Hours service – this will not change.