RCGP Chairman Professor Mayur Lakhani said: “We are
concerned by the results of the survey, which appear to show that
some PCTs are pursuing a strategy of ' role substitution' by using
non-medical staff to provide out of hours care.
11 April
2007
RCGP Chairman Mayur Lakhani said:
“Using non-medical staff is not always clinically effective or
cost effective. Assessing patients with urgent care problems
requires a high level of clinical skill and experience and it is
imperative that all health care professionals providing out of
hours care have had adequate training and are assessed as having
attained the required skills and competencies.
“The responsibility for commissioning and providing OOH services
resides with primary care trusts and not GPs. GPs are still
involved in OOH rotas and still provide a significant proportion of
OOH care. PCTs must make efforts to engage and involve GPs in out
of hours care: some PCTs have already managed to do this
effectively so why not others?
“Improvements are undoubtedly needed - being ill in the middle
of night is frightening experience and patients need to be sure the
NHS will be there for them. The RCGP 10-point action plan for out
of hours care signposts the way forward.”
Ends
For further information please contact Gillian Watson on 0207
344 3135 or email press@rcgp.org.uk