Press release: NHS Confederation comments on NAO out-of-hours report
05 May 2006
Commenting on 'The Provision of Out of Hours Care in England' report published today by the National Audit Office, Jo Webber, Deputy Director of Policy at the NHS Confederation which represent more than 90 per cent of NHS organisations, said:
"In a time of change and reorganisation, primary care trusts have built an out-of-hours service that 80 per cent of patients are satisfied with and 60 percent rate as excellent or good. Many have accomplished this in less than 18 months - a huge achievement.
"Patients now have a choice of a wide range of out-of-hours providers including nurse-led walk-in centres, NHS Direct, GP co-ops and minor injury units.
"Primary care trusts are working hard to ensure that all patients' out-of-hours needs are met by the right person, in the right setting within an appropriate timeframe.
"PCTs are working hard to integrate these services and to make sure the public are informed about how to access them.
"It is important to remember that not all out-of-hours patients require urgent care. In many cases, providing advice and reassurance is just as vital for patients as face-to-face contact.
"Every PCT has designed out-of-hours services that are the most appropriate for local patients and this increases the need for good publicity at a local level.
"We know that PCTs are learning rapidly from experience gained during the first full year of commissioning out-of-hours services and the NAO report will be a useful document in helping them learn more."
ENDS
Notes for editors
1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
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