Since launching in June 2022, the Responsive Emergency Assessment and Community Team (REACT) has supported 1,789 patients and their families, receiving nearly 2,000 referrals and saving over 20,000 hospital bed days. The service has reduced the average number of unplanned hospital bed days in the last year of a patient’s life from 38 to 17.

Operating at Bradford Royal Infirmary, senior clinicians proactively identify patients with acute palliative care needs in the emergency department, providing holistic assessment before discharge to a dedicated community virtual ward. After around 72 hours of support, patients move to local community services for ongoing care. The service also accepts direct referrals from community teams, avoiding hospital attendance altogether.

35% of patients supported had previously received no palliative care from either primary or specialist services, helping to tackle inequity of access in one of England’s most deprived areas. The service saves £1.50 for every £1 it costs to run and is now fully funded by Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust. Marie Curie is piloting elements of the model nationally, and expansion to the Yorkshire Ambulance Service is planned.

Winner of the Working in Partnership award at the NHS Excellence Awards 2026.