The results tor the fourth round of the benchmark are the first to be accessible in a way that allows individual services to be identified. This is a significant step and the services deserve credit for their openness in agreeing to this - but they believe that they not only demonstrate that the services are improving, but also show that access to a doctor is much easier and faster than is often the case for patients approaching their own practice. The results are presented in a way that allows the user to interact with the data, choose and define different comparator groups HERE. Through this tool it is also possible to download individual reports and commentaries on each service.
An overall report can also be downloaded HERE.
Events are also planned to allow commissioners, providers and those with an interest in the sector to discuss the findings and lessons in Bristol (15th May), London (22nd May) and Manchester (23rd May)
You can also access the presentations from the earlier rounds of the benchmark here;
Presentations from Round 1, March 2009
Presentations from Round 2, November & December 2009
A report for the Department of Health looking at what can be learned from the first two rounds of the benchmark can be downloaded here:
Improving out of hours care: what lessons can be learned from a national benchmark of services?
and example reports for earlier rounds of the benchmark are available
The Primary Care Foundation was established to support the development of best practice in primary and urgent care. The three Directors bring different skills and perspectives to understanding primary and urgent health care - for more details click below:
We also work with a number of associates
The benchmark of out of hours services has been published. To interact with the data and download reports CLICK HERE. To read the overall analysis of the findings CLICK HERE. The benchmark covers more than two thirds of the PCT areas in England and, for the first time, participants have agreed that the data should be published in a way that allows individual services to be identified. To read the press release CLICK HERE.
Rick Stern is to take up the role of Chief Executive of the NHS Alliance from 16 April 2012. He will still be working for half the week as a Director of the Primary Care Foundation
Our latest report ‘Breaking the mould without breaking the system: new ideas and resources for clinical commissioners on the journey towards integrated 24/7 urgent care’ is now available to download CLICK HERE. It is published in partnership with the NHS Alliance and will be formally launched at a session at the NHS Alliance annual conference in Manchester on 1st December 2011.
We are working with increasing numbers of practice to improve access and urgent care in general practice. If you would like to know more about our web based tool and customised reports based on a week of practice data and join over 300 practices across the UK,please email Rick Stern at rick.stern@primarycarefoundation.co.uk
For an independent view of our work with practices on access and urgent care CLICK HERE for the article in the HSJ on 24th November 2011
4th round of the out of hours benchmark. You should be receiving final data for validation soon and the first open set of openly available results will be available from this website in April 2012.