Guidance for Commissioners of Urgent Care Services Out Now
1st September 2011
The RCGP Centre for Commissioning has released guidance for
commissioners of urgent care services.
Guidance for Commissioning Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care
- A whole system approach was written by Dr Agnelo Fernandes, one
of the Centre's National Clinical Commissioning Champions and RCGP
Lead for Urgent Care, and draws on a wide range of evidence to
guide commissioners in effectively reviewing and redesigning local
urgent and emergency care services.
The publication is free and provides clear, practical advice and
information for commissioners of urgent and emergency care
services, to help them take a strategic approach, which is
patient-centred and focused on improving clinical outcomes with
access to a wealth of references to published literature all in one
place.
RCGP Chair Dr Clare Gerada said: The Centre brings together some of
the country's most expert and eminent GPs to lead on the new
clinically-led commissioning agenda, and this publication is the
first in a very timely and useful series of resources being
produced for other GPs, their practice teams and Clinical
Commissioning Groups.
"One of the clear aims for urgent and emergency care
commissioning in the future is to develop an approach that leads to
joined-up, seamless services for our patients, avoiding duplication
and shifting care away from expensive settings like hospitals and
back into the community to make the best use of the available
resources."
Professor Matthew Cooke, National Clinical Director Urgent and
Emergency Care, Department of Health said: "Urgent and emergency
care is a high profile service where there is scope to improve
patient care and increase value for money. The publication of
this guidance is a timely reminder of some of the issues that
Clinical Commissioning Groups will need to consider."
RCGP Centre for Commissioning Clinical Commissioning Champion
and Guide author, Dr Agnelo Fernandes, said "In the past, the
commissioning of urgent and emergency care services was often
disjointed and reactive in its approach - we now have an
opportunity to take a fresh look at this whole pathway, to be
genuinely proactive and provide a truly integrated health and
social care response for our patients.
"I have worked with a wide range of professionals from right
across the urgent and emergency care and related fields in the
development of this guide, which is a valuable reference point for
approaching the commissioning of these extremely important
services."
John Heyworth, President of the College of Emergency Medicine,
said: "Urgent and emergency care must be an absolute priority on
the commissioning agenda. For the public, this is the shop
window of the NHS - we must deliver the care they expect and
deserve."
The publication is available online as a PDF from: www.rcgp.org.uk/commissioning
A podcast with Dr Agnelo Fernandes discussing the guidance is
also live on the
website.
ENDS
FURTHER INFORMATION
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7580
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
Press@rcgp.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
The RCGP Centre for Commissioning
The RCGP Centre
for Commissioning was launched in December 2010 as a
partnership between the RCGP and the NHS Institute for Innovation
and Improvement. It equips GPs and their practice teams with
the skills, competencies and expertise required to deliver
effective healthcare commissioning which ensures patient-focused,
safe, high quality healthcare and improved local health
outcomes.
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
The Royal College of General
Practitioners is a network of over 42,000 family doctors
working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage
and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and
act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and
clinical standards.
The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
The NHS Institute supports the NHS to transform healthcare for
patients and the public by rapidly developing and spreading the new
ways of working, new technology and world-class leadership.
The College of Emergency Medicine (CEM)
The College of
Emergency Medicine is the single authoritative body for
Emergency Medicine in the UK. The College works to ensure
high quality care by setting and monitoring standards of care, and
providing expert guidance and advice on policy to relevant bodies
on matters relating to Emergency Medicine.
Follow us on:
Twitter
Facebook
Website