College Of Emergency Medicine Challenges Proposed Changes To Emergency Departments As A Result Of NHS Review, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 01 Jul 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The College of Emergency Medicine (CEM) has concerns about the proposed changes to Emergency Departments (A&E) in some regions as part of the NHS Review 'Our NHS, Our Future'. The final report of the review process, which has been led by Lord Darzi, was published today.

In particular, the College strongly opposes the proposals to reduce by up to 60% the number of patient attendances to Emergency Departments. The College believes this poses threats to patient care. Both London and South West Strategic Health Authorities are forecasting such huge reductions in attendances. It has also been suggested there should be cuts in the number of trained emergency (A&E) doctors at a time when increasing numbers of ill patients are attending Emergency Departments.

13.4 million patients attended Emergency Departments in England last year. About 50% of Emergency Departments have an experienced doctor in the department for 24 hours a day. Based on these figures, current workforce plans agreed with the Department of Health had aimed to double the number of trained emergency doctors.

Jim Wardrope, President of the CEM stated "Various schemes to reduce emergency department attendances such as walk-in centres and NHS Direct have been tried over the past 25 years but none have reduced numbers of patients coming to the ED for treatment. Plans to cut the number of emergency physicians make little or no sense at a time when increasing numbers of ill patients require more and better trained emergency physicians, not less".

The College urges others to recognise the need for 24-hour excellence in emergency care and strongly recommends that by 2012 all emergency departments should have a minimum of one trained Emergency Physician available at all times.

The College welcomes much of the work in the NHS Review and supports many of its recommendations such as better access to primary care, better community support for older people and better end of life care. At the beginning of the review process, the College prepared a number of documents and is pleased to see that in some regions this evidence has been recognised and has informed many regional reviews.

About the College of Emergency Medicine (CEM)

The College of Emergency Medicine represents specialists in Emergency Medicine and became a College by Royal Charter in February 2008. 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.

The name of the specialty changed in 2004 (from Accident & Emergency Medicine to Emergency Medicine) to bring the UK in line with the international definition. By a process of gradual change A&E departments are being re-named as Emergency Departments.

Emergency Medicine is a field of practice based on the knowledge and skills required for the prevention, diagnosis and management of acute and urgent aspects of illness and injury affecting patients of all age groups with a full spectrum of undifferentiated physical and behavioural disorders. It further encompasses an understanding of the development of pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency medical systems and the skills necessary for this development.

www.collemergencymed.ac.uk