DoH announces scheme to boost care quality and convenience

The Department of Health (DoH) has announced the initiation of a new scheme aiming to enhance the quality and convenience of care, bringing services closer to patient homes.

According to the proposals, special interest GPs and pharmacists will undergo a new accreditation procedure to guarantee their level of qualification for the delivery of high-quality patient care in the community.

The governmental guidance also includes an introduction to moving these health services previously only available in hospitals nearer to patients, with practical support available for NHS commissioners.

Andy Burnham, health minister, said: “As part of the recent white paper listening exercise, patients told us that they wanted health services to be delivered closer to home.”

He added that technological advances and the development of medicines has facilitated an increase in the number of specialised services that can be made available in a more local setting to provide improved convenience for patients.

The department notes that practitioners with special interests will have a vital role in the delivery of these services and the reduction in the workload for acute hospitals.

According to government policy, the DoH aims to encourage primary care trusts to support GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals with specialised expertise and interest in particular clinical areas, while this group is represented by the Association of Practitioners with Special Interests (APWSI).