Pharmacist Maria Bagshaw gives advice to a patient, Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT
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Strategy into action - Balancing local provision and access with Plurality, Diversity and Choice
A key challenge for commissioners is to establish open book partnerships with local acute providers whilst developing a range of alternative options for providing acute services. At first sight this appears contradictory. Yet it is possible to develop a mutual benefit approach to developing capacity by modelling demands on services against future targets.
The common ground between commissioners and acute providers should be the common recognition of principles:
- Patients should be treated at the earliest point in the system appropriate to their condition i.e. only being treated in secondary or tertiary environments when it is appropriate to the needs of their condition
- Access to care should be appropriate to the diagnostic and treatment needs of the individual
- Care should be as local as possible
- Packages of care should meet all the needs of the patient and their family
- All care should represent the best value for money available.
There is much interdependence and common ground between acute providers and commissioners. Public expectations and secondary care referrals are rising. Acute providers need to see fewer inappropriate referrals and more early discharge schemes in place if they are to meet ever more demanding targets.
Resources
Resource Guide 5 Delivering Patient Choice
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