WIREDGOV

Public and professional engagement programme underway.

Health professionals and patient groups are getting the chance to give their views on the national review of primary care out-of-hours services through a series of engagement events.

Recently (June 26), chair of the review, Professor Lewis Ritchie, was in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area to meet with patient representatives, practitioners, service providers and policy makers to discuss issues facing out-of-hours services.

Launched in January by Health Secretary Shona Robison, the review  considered how best to deliver out-of-hour services in light of the challenges of Scotland’s ageing population, and as health and social care services become better integrated.

Throughout the summer Professor Ritchie and the review team visited every health board area in Scotland in order to gather feedback. This allowed them to better understand issues facing the delivery and sustainability of primary care services when GP surgeries are closed, such as the recruitment and retention of GPs, staff availability, consistency of service and public expectations.

The review, which is due to publish its findings in the Autumn, builds on the Scottish Government’s 2020 Vision for the NHS in Scotland and the work already underway with stakeholders to determine the short and long term plans.

Professor Ritchie said:

"The NHS is facing different challenges from a decade ago with an ageing population and more people with more complex, multiple conditions.

“Out-of-hours services are a crucial component of the NHS and the review of out-of-hours primary care will be looking at how services can provide access to urgent care when needed, deliver the right skills mix and above all continue to offer patient-centred, high quality, safe and effective care in a sustainable environment.

“As part of the review process it is vital that we hear from health boards, medical and care based professionals, the voluntary and third sectors and patient groups.

“This is why I am undertaking a programme of national engagement across Scotland over the summer. The programme of visits will give medical professionals and patients alike the chance to express their views from both a regional and national level.

“So far I have visited Dumfries and Galloway and Tayside. Both visits provided me with invaluable insight into the area’s approach. It was interesting to hear views from the diverse range of people who participated in each visit including doctors, like myself, nurses, drivers, volunteers and local elected members. I have taken some very sound food for thought from each visit.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:

“With more than 90 per cent of patient visits starting and finishing in primary care it is vital that its out-of-hours provision is delivering the best service possible.

“It is also more than 10 years since the current system was created, making it the right time to review these services to ensure they continue to deliver sustainable, high quality, safe and effective care.

“The feedback gathered from the engagement sessions, as well as all other research being undertaken by Professor Ritchie and his review team, will provide crucial insight to shape the review.”

Notes To Editors

The review comes more than a decade after the 2004 UK GP contract, which transferred responsibility for delivery of out-of-hours primary care services to the management of health boards.

Anyone wishing to share an experience or offer a view can do so at OutofHoursReview@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Written contributions can also be submitted via the Review’s web space in the Your Views are Important to Us section at http://sh45inta/Topics/Health/Services/nrpcooh

The Out-of-hours Primary Care Review group is due to publish a report on its findings in the Autumn.