News Health Trust defends out-of-hours service
A local health trust has hit back at criticism of its out-of-hours system.
The Goole Times was contacted by a resident who was concerned that he was able to get through to a GP only on Friday and Saturday nights. Instead, he said, first care practitioners (FCP) were being used.
Asked about the matter, the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) said that first care practitioners were an effective way of managing resources and has been very well-received.
The out-of-hours arrangements for Goole are as follows:
Monday to Friday (6pm - 11pm) - one GP in call; Monday - Friday (11pm - 8am) - first care practitioner service on call (with additional support, if needed, from two GPs); Saturday (8am - 1pm) - two GPs on call; Saturday/Sunday (1pm - 8am) - one GP on call; Sunday - one GP available throughout Sunday.
There are plans to introduce an additional first care practitioner from November.
A PCT spokesperson said: "First Contact Practitioners are highly-skilled and experienced, degree-educated advanced nurse clinicians who work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team which includes General Practitioners.
"Early reports showed a seven per cent reduction in the number of unnecessary out of hours hospital admissions, and a 50 per cent fall in complaints, health and safety incidents and serious untoward incidents in the first three months following the introduction of FCPs.
"Most importantly, patients are already reporting that the new out-of-hours arrangements offer them a high quality response that is safe, accessible and reassuring throughout their whole episode of care."
Published on 11th October 2007 in News.
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