Out-of-hours systems miss targets
Now that Primary Care Trusts co-ordinate out-of-hours services, health bosses in the West have failed to meet some of their targets in providing an out-of-hours service.
The new system of out-of-hours cover began in October, when GPs were able to opt out of being on call in the evenings and weekends.
The task has fallen to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which should assess 90% of patients within 20 minutes.
Swindon PCT came out worst in the region, with a third of its patients assessed in this time in February.
Data for four Somerset PCTs shows 100% of patients were dealt with in the specified 20 minutes during March.
Figures from PCTs providing the service in Bristol and South Gloucestershire over varying timeframes ranged from 43% of patients being assessed within the 20 minute window, to 73%.
Swindon PCT says its figures have improved. In a statement, it said: "We have agreed an action plan to improve the efficiency of the service, and will increase the number of staff responding to calls to speed the response."
Jill Shepherd, director of operations and primary care for Bristol North PCT, added: "Over the past months there has been significant improvement and in April all providers met the assessment targets.
"Like any new service it does take a little time to bed in and get used to the peaks and troughs of demands."
Other figures show that many patients are not getting to see a doctor quickly enough.
Family doctors are supposed to see 90% of emergency cases within an hour.
This figure was 50% for Swindon PCT in February, the Somerset PCTs fared better in March, seeing 71% of patients; 66% were seen by three Gloucestershire PCTs between November and April and, for some parts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire, 64% were seen.
Elsewhere in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, more than 90% of patients were seen in this timeframe.
A spokeswoman for Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT, which co-ordinates Gloucestershire's service, said: "Last week, we met the 'within one hour' standard for emergency visits for all but one patient.
"Every time we go over the hour we investigate fully the circumstances and where possible take remedial action to reduce the incidence of 'misses' in the future."
The new system of out-of-hours cover began in October, when GPs were able to opt out of being on call in the evenings and weekends.
The task has fallen to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which should assess 90% of patients within 20 minutes.
Swindon PCT came out worst in the region, with a third of its patients assessed in this time in February.
Data for four Somerset PCTs shows 100% of patients were dealt with in the specified 20 minutes during March.
Figures from PCTs providing the service in Bristol and South Gloucestershire over varying timeframes ranged from 43% of patients being assessed within the 20 minute window, to 73%.
Swindon PCT says its figures have improved. In a statement, it said: "We have agreed an action plan to improve the efficiency of the service, and will increase the number of staff responding to calls to speed the response."
Jill Shepherd, director of operations and primary care for Bristol North PCT, added: "Over the past months there has been significant improvement and in April all providers met the assessment targets.
"Like any new service it does take a little time to bed in and get used to the peaks and troughs of demands."
Other figures show that many patients are not getting to see a doctor quickly enough.
Family doctors are supposed to see 90% of emergency cases within an hour.
This figure was 50% for Swindon PCT in February, the Somerset PCTs fared better in March, seeing 71% of patients; 66% were seen by three Gloucestershire PCTs between November and April and, for some parts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire, 64% were seen.
Elsewhere in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, more than 90% of patients were seen in this timeframe.
A spokeswoman for Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT, which co-ordinates Gloucestershire's service, said: "Last week, we met the 'within one hour' standard for emergency visits for all but one patient.
"Every time we go over the hour we investigate fully the circumstances and where possible take remedial action to reduce the incidence of 'misses' in the future."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4552751.stm
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