BMA Scotland Comment On Audit Scotland Out Of Hours Report

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 31 Aug 2007 - 1:00 PST

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GP leaders in Scotland welcomed the publication of the Audit Scotland report into Primary Care Out-of-Hours Services.

Dr Dean Marshall, Chairman of the BMA's Scottish General Practitioners Committee, said:

"This report highlights some of the fundamental issues that have hindered NHS Boards from developing integrated services for out-of-hours care. GPs agree that there needs to be improved communication and co-operation between the various branches of the NHS tasked with delivering primary care out-of-hours services.

"With the additional cost of providing the new service at £31 million in 2005/06, it seems that the Government clearly did not appreciate the extent of the personal and financial burden borne by GPs in delivering 24 hour patient care under the old arrangements. The cost of delivering services out of hours is now being borne by NHS Boards who are struggling to maintain services at existing levels.

"The report highlights that the current model of care is not sustainable, particularly so for the more remote and rural areas of Scotland. BMA Scotland would welcome the opportunity to be involved in discussions on how the various service providers can work together to deliver out-of-hours care in the long term and to consider the potential for wider improvements to unscheduled care for patients across Scotland".

Commenting on the findings of the patient survey, Dr Marshall said:

"It is reassuring that more than 80% of patients are satisfied with the care they have received from their out-of-hours service. Interestingly, the survey demonstrates that very few patients contact the out-of-hours service because of problems accessing services from their GP practice. This would seem to support existing evidence that, overall, patients have appropriate access to daytime GP services."

Commenting on the findings of the survey of GPs, Dr Marshall added:

"It should not be forgotten that the new contract, which allowed GPs to hand over responsibility for providing out-of-hours care, was designed to combat a crisis in general practice and ensure the sustainability of out-of-hours care for patients. Before the new contract was introduced, morale was at an all time low, GPs were planning to retire early and recruitment was becoming impossible. Now, however, GPs have more control over their workload, work-life balance and morale has improved. Importantly, more than two-thirds believe that a career in general practice has become attractive again."

The report will be available online at: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/

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