24.01.12
Consultant delivered care benefits published
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AOMRC) has published a review into the benefits to patients of consultant delivered medical care, carried out by a steering group led by Professor Terrence Stephenson.
The report found that these benefits include rapid and appropriate decision making, improved outcomes for patients, more efficient use of resources, GP’s access to the opinion of a fully trained doctor and patient expectation of access to appropriate and skilled clinicians and information.
The AOMRC recommends that these benefits need to be considered in the future shape of the medical workforce and that consultant-delivered care should be available to all patients at all times. Work must be done to implement consultant working patterns and map out staffing requirements to achieve this.
Professor Terence Stephenson, Academy vice-chair and lead of the steering group said: “This review provides real evidence that patients are likely to have better outcomes to their care and resources will be used more effectively when medical care is delivered by consultants.
“The weight of evidence makes it clear that it can no longer be acceptable for some patients to have to risk poorer outcomes because consultants may not be available at some times of the day or week. This will mean changes to the working patterns of consultants but also to how services need to be staffed and configured in a local area to provide safe care.”
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