Out of hours (OOH) primary care services

Source: Department of Health

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Year of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Letter

In a nutshell: A letter from David Colin-Thome, National Director for Primary Care, to primary care trusts in relation to the Care Quality Commission independent enquiry into provision of out-of-hours GP services. This letter reiterates that PCTs have a legal obligation to make sure out of hours services are delivered safely and to a high standard.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Ambulance HART – Harzardous Area Response Team

Source: Ambulance HART (Harzardous Area Response Team)

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Date of publication: 2009

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell:  Hazardous Area Response Teams originated from a 2004 report on the feasibility of Paramedics working in the inner cordon or hot zone of major incidents. The website explains the roll of  HART programme and reports on the progress of creating HART teams within Ambulance Services. Areas covered included:  recruitment, training, current initiatives, a news wire and online access to the Inside HART newsletter.

Same day health centre soon to open in Fleetwood

Source: NHS North Lancashire

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Date of publication: September 2009

Publication type: Press Release

In a nutshell: Local GPs and staff at NHS North Lancashire are preparing for the opening of new medical services in Fleetwood. The same day health centre will be based at Fleetwood Hospital and will provide healthcare for patients with a new or recent injury or illness. The centre is being provided by Coastal Health Care on behalf of NHS North Lancashire. The same day health centre will provide healthcare services for residents of Fleetwood and surrounding areas from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It will offer treatment for minor illness and injuries with a GP or nurse.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Urgent care joint clinical venture in North Lancashire

Source: NHS North Lancashire

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Year of publication: August 2009

Publication type: Press Release

In a nutshell: A seminar is being held for all stakeholders in urgent and unscheduled care, giving a detailed appraisal of the new integrated urgent care service in the Lancaster and Morecambe district.  The seminar will be held on Friday 18th September, 09.30-12.30, Moor Lane Mills, Lancaster LA1 1QD

Length of publication: 1 web page

Some important notes: Follow this link for the full flyer

Primary Care Foundation urgent care conference report

Source: Primary Care Foundation

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Year of publication: June 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell:  Kaye McIntosh reports from the Primary Care Foundation seminar entitled “Urgent care: a practical guide to transforming same-day care in general practice”

Length of publication: 6 pages

Some important notes: The seminar was based on the Primary Care Foundation report of the same name – follow this link to view the report.  Presentations are also available from the seminar – follow this link to view presentations

Greater Manchester Urgent Care Clinical Congress 2009

Source: Commissioning Business Service

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Year of Publication: July 2009

Publication type:  Website

In a nutshell: The Greater Manchester (GM) Urgent Care Clinical Congress took place on 10th July, 2009 and was designed to build a shared understanding of the case for change to optimise the delivery of urgent care services for local people.  The event, run by the Association of GM PCTs and the GM Urgent Care Network, had valuable support and input from the Commissioning Business Service (CBS).  Speakers included Mike Farrar, senior A&E doctors and experienced GPs.  The congress engaged a wide range of clinical, managerial and patient stakeholders to establish the current situation across GM and the priorities for action on urgent care across all services.  The GM Urgent Care Network will work to implement congress recommendations.

Length of publication: Webpage with link to pdf output report

Unscheduled care facilities: minimum requirements

Source: College of Emergency Medicine

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Year of publication: July 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: The College of Emergency Medicine have set out what they consider to be the minimum requirements for unscheduled care units which see the less seriously ill or injured, so that they can provide safe, high quality, appropriately supervised and cost efficient care for patients. 

The recommended standards are relevant to both stand-alone units and co-located urgent care facilities. 

Length of publication: 4 pages

Some important notes: These minimum requirements have been published in collaboration with the Faculty of Emergency Nursing and the Emergency Nurse Consultant Association

Out-of-hours care in western countries: assessment of different organizational models

Source: BMC Health Services Research 2009, 9:105

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Date of publication: June 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Internationally, different organizational models are used for providing out-of-hours care. This study used a survey across 25 countries to assess prevailing models and identify their potential strengths and weaknesses.   In most countries several different models existed alongside each other, including Accident & Emergency, rota groups and GP cooperatives.  The perceived strengths and weaknesses of these models are discussed.  GP cooperatives combine size of scale advantages with high accessibility, continuity and coordination of care. While specific patients require other organizational models, the co-existence of different models for out-of-hours care in a country may be less efficient for health systems.

Length of publication: 21 pages

An evaluation of the accuracy and safety of NHS Pathways

Source: Parliament 

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Date of Publication: June 2008 (published online June 2009)

Publication Type: Research

In a nutshell: Report that assesses the robustness, performance, accuracy, efficiency and safety of the NHS Pathways trial with North East Ambulance Service. NHS Pathways refers callers to the Ambulance service to relevant alternative care providers if appropriate, reducing the number of Category A (8 minute response calls). The report concluded that NHS Pathways was at least as safe as current call assessment and prioritisation processes. The study informed the Department of Health’s decision to allow Ambulance services across the UK to adopt NHS Pathways, announced in the February 2009.

Length of publication: 130 pages

Some important notes: E-Health Insider reports the original announcement from The Department of Health on NHS Pathways.

Acknowledgements: Turner , J., Lattimer, V. and Snooks, H., 2008. An evaluation of the accuracy and safety of NHS Pathways. London: Commissioned by The Department of Health from The Medical Care Research Unit at the University of Sheffield in collaboration with the University of Southampton and Swansea University.

Urgent care project: best practice review

Source: Warwick Medical School

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Date of Publication: February 2009

Publication Type: Best Practice

In a nutshell: Review aimed at creating an evidence base for the design of a new vertically integrated urgent care system. An extensive review of the literature looking at UK and international examples organises results into: 1) the way care is organised, 2) specific ways of providing care and 3) involving people in their care.  The review identifies initiatives that may reduce unplanned hospitalisation and re-addmission, interventions that may reduce hospital stays and interventions that may moderate readdmission.

Length of Publication: 35 pages