OUT OF HOURS SERVICE REVIEW UNDERWAY IN REGION
Written by author on August 10, 2015
Almost one million consultations with around 900,000 patients were carried out by GP out of hours services last year, new figures published show.
These statistics, published for the first time by ISD Scotland, will help inform the National Review of GP Out of Hours services led by Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie.
Commenting on the statistics, Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Access to urgent primary medical services outside normal GP surgery hours is a fundamental part of unscheduled care in Scotland. The statistics released today show, for the first time, the key role GP out-of-hours services play in Scotland – with nearly 900,000 patients seen and almost one million consultations carried out last year.
“This new statistical publication by ISD Scotland is to be welcomed and provides a fuller picture of the activity of GP out-of-hours services.
“The information will also help support the National Review of GP Out-of-Hours Services, announced earlier this year, which is considering how best to deliver these services in light of the challenges of Scotland’s ageing population, and the new ways of working that health and social care integration will bring.”
The Review, which is being led by Professor Ritchie, is expected to report its recommendations to the Scottish Government in the autumn.
Professor Ritchie has now completed his national engagement programme of visits to health board areas across Scotland, where he has been gathering the views of health professionals and other stakeholders as well as patient groups across the country.
The review team visited every health board area in Scotland in order to better understand the issues facing the delivery and sustainability of primary care services when GP surgeries are closed. This included issues such as working across remote and rural areas, as well as the recruitment and retention of GPs, staff availability, consistency of service and public expectations
Professor Ritchie said: “Over the summer the review group undertook a programme of national engagement across Scotland. This gave a wide range of professionals engaged in the delivery of primary care out of hours services and patient groups the opportunity to express their views from both a regional and national perspective. It was interesting to hear clinicians, administrators and support colleagues including doctors, like myself, nurses, pharmacists, Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS 24 personnel, managers, patients and other partner agencies.
“The regional visits provided me and the team with invaluable insight into the different approaches in each area and to hear about not only some of the challenges that we know services are facing but also some of the innovative solutions that are being developed. All of these views will help shape the review as we being to crystallise our thinking and form our recommendations. I am grateful to all of those who took the time to attend the visits and to talk to
Dr Angus Cameron, Medical Director for NHS Dumfries & Galloway and a former GP said: “We welcome the national review of the Out of Hours Services. We recognise that we need to move to encompass a range of health care professionals and operational support staff who will work together to help deliver a continuum of care and responsive service for our people.
“We have a local review underway, examining how best we can take forward our out of hours urgent care services, Sir Lewis Ritchie was able to meet with the review group and discuss the issues. We look forward to hearing the outcomes of Sir Lewis Ritchie’s national review which will help us shape our local service.”
