NHS emergency services risk failing up to 20 million patients, says health wat... - The Diigo Meta page

• 18 Nov 11
  

  J N

  But many patients were confused about where to go for help and had to wait too long in pain while being transferred from one service to another. The NHS does not measure these hidden waits and nobody takes responsibility for unnecessary suffering, the commission said.
  
  It called for stricter monitoring to measure the patient's total "care pathway" from first summoning help to receiving appropriate treatment. It also suggested a single telephone number for urgent care, which could direct people to the most appropriate service instead of leaving them to wonder whether to call 999 for an ambulance or phone the GP, an out-of-hours service or NHS Direct. The government should try out a single number in local trials, it said.

  projects nhsreform nhs opportunity

• 26 Sep 08
  

  Kieran Lamb

  NHS emergency services responsible for about 20 million patients across two-fifths of England are not providing the speedy, joined-up care which patients should expect, the government's health watchdog said last night.
  
  The Healthcare Commission found most GPs, ambulance services and hospital casualty and walk-in clinics achieved the government's targets for dealing with people quickly.

  Accident and Emergency Departments Out of Hours Primary Care NHS Direct Ambulance Services Health News UHN Quality The Guardian

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