How can geospatial be used for decision making?

Patients should have access to the right treatment, at the right place at the right time; patient choice is a powerful driver for improving quality and efficiency of services. The Urgent and Emergency Care mapping solution was developed to eliminate the barriers in accessing services that patients face. It equips commissioners with the insight they need to understand the current urgent care system.

At its core, this tool is about improving lives. It ensures patient choice drives better quality and more efficient care, while making sure communities aren’t overlooked. By identifying areas with limited access, particularly vulnerable populations, it guides decisions that reduce inequalities and improve health outcomes. It does not just show where services exist. It reveals where they are needed most, and why. The tool is built with sustainability and social value in mind. It incorporates travel analysis to support low carbon planning and helps futureproof urgent care provision.

Through bivariate mapping, it highlights communities facing multiple layers of disadvantage, combining data on deprivation and population density to pinpoint where transformation is most urgent. In a system under pressure, where targets like the 18-minute response time for Category 2 ambulance calls and the four-hour A&E waiting times have consistently been missed, the mapping solution offers a practical way forward. It models the impact of upgrading or closing sites, factoring in age, health status, and deprivation. It also allows commissioners to explore different journey lengths and urgency levels, enabling more strategic and targeted interventions. This is not just a technical tool. It is a strategic asset that supports commissioners in making informed, evidence-based decisions. It helps relieve pressure on emergency departments and ensures service transformation aligns with clinical priorities and the needs of the communities they serve.