‘Urgent need to bolster our out of hours care’
STAFFING problems and poor morale are putting primary care out-ofhours services under huge pressure.
That’s according to a new report by the Auditor General for Wales, who claims that there is an “urgent need” to strengthen this provision for the good of patients.
Out-of-hours services provide urgent primary care when GP surgeries are closed. They form part of the wider urgent care system that includes A&E departments, NHS Direct and the emerging 111 service.
Although patients are generally happy with the services they get, the report claims that difficulties in filling shifts are threatening the resilience of services in many parts of Wales.
It found that national standards on the timeliness of appointments are not being met and that patients need to be given better information about how to access services.
There is also a lack of information on service quality and performance which is hampering effective management of services at the national and local level. Auditor General for Wales Huw Vaughan-Thomas says a “more sustainable approach” is needed to address these challenges.
He said: “This report highlights the urgent need to strengthen outof-hours services and address some longstanding workforce challenges.
“Patients also need better information on how to access services. It is essential that the Welsh Government and health boards work together to implement my recommendations and develop sustainable improvements to these vital services.” The report added that planning of out-ofhours services typically happens in isolation from other services, despite it being part of a wider urgent care system.
While the new 111 telephone service, which is soon to be rolled out across Wales, will help address some integration issues, it is not going solve all the problems.
Dr Charlotte Jones, chairwoman of GPC Wales, said she had “real concerns” about the sustainability of out-ofhours services across Wales.
“Pressures facing GPs across Wales are increasing and recruitment and retention challenges are putting the system under a real strain, leading to more choosing to leave the profession.
“With the lack of resources and no new investment in out-of-hours services, it is no surprise that GPs are feeling too exhausted to work outof-hours.
“There have been other changes that have had an adverse impact on the workforce, including changes to taxation and organisational structures.
“Having safe and sustainable out-of-hours services for patients is highly important and BMA Cymru Wales has put forward a range of solutions to the government and health boards to ensure safe and sustainable services for staff and patients.”
In response, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The report recognises that patients are generally happy with the out-of-hours primary care service they receive.
“However, we are aware of the strains the service can face and action is already under way to address the majority of recommendations made in the report.”