NHS Confederation welcomes plans for more integrated urgent and emergency care services

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Friday, 26, Sep 2008 12:00

The NHS Confederation has endorsed the approach and recommendations set out in the Healthcare Commission report, Not just a matter of time. In particular the Confederation welcomes the Healthcare Commission’s call for services to work together in delivering coordinated care and their support for pilots of a single number for urgent care.

Commenting on the report, Steve Barnett, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation which represents 95% of NHS organisations said:

“We welcome the news that response times and services levels are improving but recognise that there is still work to be done.

“The report supports our own vision for a more integrated approach to urgent and emergency care which builds on good practice locally. Only by doing so, will we ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time in the right place. This is work PCTs are already leading and we will continue to help our members build on current good practice.”

One idea which the report also considers, and which the Ambulance Service Network, part of the NHS Confederation, has been calling for, is the establishment of a single number for urgent care calls. This would allow patients to get rapid help with healthcare issues which do not require an ambulance and help improve response times for emergency calls.

Liz Kendall, Director of the Ambulance Service Network, a part of the NHS Confederation added:

“Ambulance services are reaching more patients faster than ever before. Significant improvements have been made in ambulance response times for patients since the data for the review was collected. All ambulance trusts anticipate they will hit the national target for patients with immediately life threatening incidents by the end of the year.”

“The Ambulance Service Network is delighted that the report backs the ASN’s call for pilots of a new single number for urgent care, for more focus on keeping patients out of hospital and for a shift in the way services are measured towards patient outcomes and experiences, not just response time.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

2. Contact Niall Smith 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.