A report into GP
Out-Of-Hours care that makes a number of recommendations for
improving the system was published by the Department of Health today.
The report, ‘General Practice Out of Hours Services,’ follows a
review by Dr David Colin-Thome, National Clinical Director for
Primary Care at the Department of Health and Professor Steve
Field, Chairman of Council, Royal College of General
Practitioners.
The review looked at current arrangements for out-of-hours
services. It found that there are already robust requirements in
place to ensure the commissioning and delivery of safe, high
quality out-of-hours services, but that there is unacceptable
variation in how these are implemented and monitored by Primary
Care Trusts around the country.
It outlines a number of recommendations to improve the
commissioning and provision of out of hours care, including that:
PCTs should review the performance management arrangements in
place for their out-of-hours services and ensure they are robust
and fit for purpose;The Department of Health should issue guidance
to PCTs to assist them in making decisions about whether or not a
doctor has the necessary knowledge of English; The Department of
Health should develop and introduce an improvement programme for
PCTs to support their commissioning and performance management of
out-of-hours services;Out-of-hours providers should consider the
recruitment and selection processes in place for clinical staff to
ensure they are robust and that they are following best
practice;Strategic Health Authorities should consider how they
monitor action taken by PCTs in response to this report and in
carrying out appropriate performance management of out-of-hours
providers; and Providers should co-operate with other local and
regional providers (both in and out-of-hours) to share any
concerns over staff working excessive hours for their respective
services.
The Department of Health has accepted all the recommendations in
the report.
Dr David Colin-Thome said:
“The quality of out of hours care for most people is better than
it was in 2004, but there is unacceptable variation in how
services are implemented and monitored around the country.
“However, I am confident that by implementing the recommendations
from our report, the system can be strengthened and vastly improved.”
Professor Steve Field added:
“The report outlines a number of important recommendations which
will remind PCTs of their legal obligation to provide safe, high
quality out of hours care.
“I’m pleased that Health Minister Mike O’Brien has accepted the
report’s recommendations in full and that there are plans to go
even further to ensure patients will receive consistently good
care, regardless of where they live.”
Notes to Editors
The full report contains 24 recommendations in total. It will be
published on the Department of Health website shortly:
www.dh.gov.ukThe Department of Health will set out its response to
the report, ‘General Practice Out of Hours Services,’ and further
measures to strengthen GP out of hours services later this
afternoon.The out of hours period generally refers to:
(a) the period beginning at 6.30pm on any day from Monday to
Thursday and ending at 8am on the following day,
(b) the period between 6.30pm on Friday and 8am on the following
Monday, and
(c) Good Friday, Christmas Day and bank holidays.
By the Beginning of 2004, approximately 70 per cent of GPs had
delegated the responsibility to a GP co-operative, and around 25
per cent to a commercial provider. By April 2005, 75 per cent of
out-of-hours provision was carried out by the Trusts themselves or
through co-operatives, with the remaining 25 per cent provided by
commercial providers, ambulance trusts and others, and with NHS
Direct supplying initial call handling for many providers. For
more information please contact the Department of Health press
office on 020 7210 5221.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk