Summary Report of the National Review Primary Care Out of Hours Services
A Summary Report of the independent Review of Primary Care Out of Hours Services Chaired by Prof Sir Lewis Ritchie. The Main Report, which accompanies this summary version, provides a more comprehensive overview of the Review, its methodology, findings and rationale for the recommendations proposed.
Chairman's Introduction
Purpose: This Summary Report has been prepared to sit alongside the Full Report as a more accessible and concise version: to describe the work, findings and recommendations of the Primary Care Out of Hours Review 'the Review'. Its purpose is to summarise and to guide best use of the extensive and detailed Full Report which should be regarded as a source document.
Background: Out of hours primary care services (OOH services) are under considerable pressure, as is daytime general practice, at this time. Services are fragile, are not sustainable and may worsen rapidly if we do not rise to the occasion.
Transformation: We must secure resilient, high quality and safe out of hours (OOH) services, but we must also think anew about what is best for both urgent and emergency care for the people of Scotland on a 24/7 basis. That requires transformational change across many sectors - it will be neither easy nor quick. We must strive for excellent services, which must be valued accordingly and used responsibly. The Review is cast at a pivotal moment for health and social integration and that has galvanised our thinking and actions.
Appreciation: I have been humbled by the dedication and commitment of very many colleagues during the course of the Review who are too numerous to mention, by the steadfast support of the public who helped us and by my support team,.
Expectations: I am very conscious of the limitations of the Review which reaches out to all care sectors and those we serve. I hope that some recommendations will bear fruit in the short term but others will take much longer to come to fruition.
Getting urgent and emergency care right is of paramount importance for the people of Scotland and for those who provide care for them. The case for immediate action is clear. We will need to do this well, to do this with resolve and to do this together.
Lewis D Ritchie
Chairman
National Review of Primary Care Out of Hours Services
Primary care out of hours team at the Urgent Care Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital Edinburgh, including driver, GPs, nurse practitioner, receptionist and centre support staff
The Social Care Response Service, Dundee
Contact
Email: Diane Campion
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