RCGP Reaction to CQC Out of Hours Care
Review
2nd October 2009
RCGP Chairman Professor Steve Field said
today: “As we have said before, out of hours provision is patchy in
different parts of the UK and we agree that some PCTs are not
effectively monitoring the performance of some providers.
"We have also been worried about how the
Performers List is managed between primary care organisations
across the UK.
“Therefore we welcome this report from the
Care Quality Commission and the reaction from the Department of
Health. I look forward to working with the Department on improving
the commissioning, delivery and monitoring of out of hours
services.
“I am pleased with the responses from Health
Minister Mike O’Brien when we’ve met with him to discuss our
concerns.
“Providers need to ensure their doctors are
competent to the level of UK trained graduates, have good English
skills, not overly tired after working long shifts and are
orientated to the local conditions. There needs to be safeguards
and reviews in place, at both the clinical and strategic level.
“What happened in Cambridgeshire was a
terrible tragedy and we need to ensure this never happens again.
All patients deserve the best care, wherever they live in the
UK.
“Longer term, we need more GPs to get involved
in commissioning and providing out of hours, weekend and emergency
services. Patients have the right to expect the same quality of
care out of hours as they do during normal hours.”
FURTHER INFORMATION
RCGP Press office – 020 7344 3136
Out of hours: 07885 958 632
press@rcgp.org.uk