FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Media Statement
RCPE Comment on Seven-day care
Commenting upon the Secretary of State for Health’s comments on seven-day working, Prof Derek Bell, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:
“The RCPE recognises the benefits that can be delivered to patients by increasing the level of care available at weekends and out of hours.
“However, this will clearly have resource implications, not only in terms of increased cover from doctors, but also increased multi-disciplinary support to provide, for example, diagnostic test results out of hours and ensure that resources are available in the community to support early discharge from hospital.
“A central element of this will also be the development of - and adherence to - safe staffing levels across all disciplines.
“Later this year, the College will be hosting an Expert Workshop on providing high quality care out of hours and at weekends for acutely unwell patients. This workshop will assess the barriers and enablers to extended working and the knock-on effects on other disciplinary teams.
“It is essential that an evidence-based approach to seven-day working is taken that looks at the implications across the entire NHS and in social and community care.”
ENDS
Contact: Lisa Rooke, RCPE - 0131 247 3688 / 07717 895628 / l.rooke@rcpe.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
1. The full speech by Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/making-healthcare-more-human-centred-and-not-system-centred
