Nice one Tim! Could be a refreshing career move!
We put NHS Direct number as first point of contact over the Festive Season &
are now dealing with lots of moans; mainly length of time to talk to a
nurse. One Mum made over 30 phone calls before being able to talk to a
nurse.
John Apps
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Timothy J Coats
(SURG) 7728
Sent: 01 January 2000 22:11
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: What is a primary care problem?
> Here's my proposal for the future!
>
> All OOH services are based in A&E depts, with GPs working alongside A&E
> docs. All patients are triaged as being either A&E or GP fodder.
Deputising
> services & Co-OPs could be relocated to work in A&E depts & where failing
> brought into line with regard to quality standards.
>
How about going one stage further. Emergency work in General Practice and
A&E is really very similar. Emergency General Practice seems to be emerging
as a sub-speciality (with many GPs opting out of providing 24hour personal
care). Should Emergency General Practice and Accident and Emergency not be
combined - making a Department of Emergency Care?
The future emergency clinic could combine all out of hours emergency care.
Patients (and doctors) in this system would not be labelled either GP or
A&E.
The senior doctors would be a group comprising of some 'Hospital Emergency
Care doctors' and some 'Primary Care Doctors with a special interest in
Emergency Care'. The middle grades would be training grades from both these
specialities (these career pathways would be slightly different, coming
together
in the Emergency Clinic (?Emergency Care Unit?) but having different sets of
training attachments). SHOs would work under supervision.
This model might combine the strengths of both General Practice and Accident
and Emergency. (With thanks to Alastair Wilson whose ideas I have
stolen!!!).
Tim.
Timothy J Coats MD FRCS FFAEM
Senior Lecturer in Accident and Emergency / Pre-Hospital Care
Royal London Hospital, UK.
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