Matthew i am just completing a 2 month audit on an OOH primary cantre based
in our OPD but which is remote (across the road even) from our A&E
department. They have very large numbers of patient contacts either by
telephone, by consultation in the centre or in the patient's home. They
refer relatively few and what they refer is in fact quite appropriate if you
acept that a patient having x-rays, investigations, admission or onward
referral makes for an appropriate referral.
Interestingly though, quite a few of those who are referred never actually
pitch up !
We are now trying to liaise with them to offer patients who pitch up out of
hours and who are appropriate for primary care, the opportunity to phone the
OOH center form the A&E department if they dont want to wait in a busy A&E
department. Call it shopping maybe but the overall cycle time for the
patient getting an answer to their seemingly urgent problem is shorter that
way.
John Ryan
-----Original Message-----
From: Dr Matthew W Cooke <[log in to unmask]>
To: acadae messages <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 27 June 1999 12:57
Subject: OOH centres and A&E
>TO: ACAD-AE-MED MAILING LIST
>
>I am currently undertaking a review of primary care issues relating to A&E.
>As you know a lot has been written about this.
>
>However very little EVIDENCE is published about the impact of out of hours
>centres on A&E or about the impact of OOH centres being placed within the
>same building. Does anyone have any local audits / figures etc. that could
>help me quantify the effect?
>
>Thanks very much. Please reply by private e-mail if not of general interest
>to the list.
>
>Matthew.
>
>
>
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