Responding to the House of Commons Health Committee publication ‘Winter pressure in accident and emergency departments’ Prof Derek Bell, President of the Royal College of Physician of Edinburgh, said:

“The issue of improving the emergency care experience and outcomes for patients is of paramount importance but data over the last few years has shown a steady decline in system performance with minimal evidence of a coherent overall plan. As such the report is welcome and action is needed now. The variability of the current transformation plans in England may in some cases exacerbate problems. Over the last 12 months while pressures in Scotland continue, overall performance has been consistently better than in the other three nations.  As such, the 6 Essential Actions to Improving Unscheduled Care programme, which shares best practice across Scotland and the UK, appears to be showing patient benefit.

“The lack of a whole system approach and inconsistent use of data compounds the problem by failing to ensure priorities are managed. Additional investment should be targeted as it is unlikely that performance this winter (irrespective of illness severity or weather) will be good.

“It should be recognised that emergency pressures have become an all year round problem as reported by our Fellows and Members throughout the UK. The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine have considerable knowledge of the problem and the solutions, and while some hospitals have a better patient experience recent trends are downwards.  

 “The report notes that some hospitals are managing patient flow better than others, and focus should be on improving care to allow flow through the emergency department - either back into the community, or to the correct inpatient bed, at the right time, cared for by the right person.”

Notes:

1.       Winter pressure in accident and emergency departments can be accessed here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmhealth/277/27702.htm?utm_source=277&utm_campaign=modulereports&utm_medium=fullbullet

2.       Our written evidence to the Committee can be access here: http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/health-committee/winter-planning/written/35470.html

3.       More information on the 6 Essential Actions to Improving Unscheduled Care can be found here: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Quality-Improvement-Performance/UnscheduledCare/6-Essential-Actions-To-Improving-Unscheduled-Care

4. The College is currently working with the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design (link is external) on designing communication tools to improve patient flow. This work aims to improve the visibility of care journeys and the communication and ability to share amongst the multi-disciplinary team - while also empowering the patient.