Dial 111, is this the way forward?
Released: 01/06/2011
A more meaningful and engaging discussion is needed regarding the models for implementing the new national three digit number (111) for patients in need of urgent care, says the NHS Alliance.
The NHS Alliance Urgent Care Network has just published a discussion paper – A new approach to 111: Re-establishing general practice as the main route in to urgent care – which outlines the issues around the use and implementation of a new national number.
The objective of this discussion paper is to encourage primary care providers, patients and the government to engage in the discussion about how the new national number can be implemented within the current system to bring about efficiencies and better care for patients.
The papers author, Dr Ray Montague, a GP in Bristol and founding director of GP urgent care provider Brisdoc Healthcare Services, said: “A signposting service using 111 is a great way of providing options for patients that are unsure where to turn with their urgent health care need. But we need a different emphasis, which seeks to restore and improve urgent primary care delivery within general practice and avoids the dismantling of existing services that may be working better than we think under the pressure of increasing demand.”
Rick Stern, lead of the NHS Alliance Urgent Care Network, added: “We want more people to engage in a wider debate about how 111 can be used to improve access to urgent care. One approach is to develop 111 as a vital support sitting behind a new ‘GP24/7’ service, providing back up when general practice is unable to cope, or when patients are not registered with a local practice. At the same time, it is crucial that we consider all the angles, and in particular, how a new number can be used to strengthen local health systems.”
The discussion paper argues that a new national number will only work if it sits on top of an effective joined up local service, rather than the current complex and fragmented range of services that too many patients are faced with when they need an urgent response.
Dr Montague, concluded: “GP commissioners need to focus on building integrated 24/7 urgent care. Local health systems need to invest more of their time and effort in improving access and rapid response in every general practice as the first port of call of most people who have an urgent need for care.”
Ends.
Notes to editors:
1. A new approach to 111: Re-establishing general practice as the main route in to urgent care has been published by the NHS Alliance Urgent Care Network. The network represents the wider sector and is made up of 12 elected representatives, including chief executives and medical directors from urgent care providers. For a copy of the paper, please email pressoffice@nhsalliance.org
2. NHS Alliance brings together GP consortia, PCTs, clinicians and managers as the leading organisation in primary care. We are an independent non-political membership organisation proud to be at the forefront of clinically-led commissioning. Its leaders are all dedicated professionals, who represent the Alliance’s diverse membership, working ceaselessly to meet the challenges facing the NHS today. Find out more at www.nhsalliance.org
3. The NHS Alliance Annual Conference – Break Through! – will be held on November 30th and December 1st 2011 in Manchester.
4. For more information, please email pressoffice@nhsalliance.org or call 07772756674.