Planificarea de iarnă și accesul la medicul de familie

The NHS faced a very challenging winter in 2016/17. Adverse weather conditions over winter put extra pressure on services due to increased accidents, more emergency hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and a rise in flu and norovirus.

ICB Echipa de Cercetare și Eficacitate Clinică reviewed the evidence around winter planning and GP access, to find out if improved access to GPs could reduce A&E attendances and hospital admissions.

Impactul nostru

We identified that increased access to GPs, including seven-day opening; out-of-hours access; appointments within two days and continuity of care are related to reductions in A&E attendances, and in some subsequent hospital admissions.

The evidence review was used by clinical commissioning leads to make decisions about 2017/18 winter services. It helped to identify which services should be commissioned in specific areas, to reduce A&E attendances and hospital admissions during the winter months.