Out of Hours Care

2004 saw a revolution in the way in which OOH care provision is made. The nGMS contract allowed GPs and their practices to “opt out” of offering 24 hour care to their registered patients and our independent research indicates that 85% of all GPs took this route. Today around 50% of OOH provision is undertaken by the independent sector (including co-ops) with around 50% undertaken by the PCTs’ provider arms. As PCTs increasingly focus on commissioning this ratio will continue to adjust, with Harmoni meeting PCT and patient demand from its existing regional hubs and centres of excellence.

In those areas where Harmoni has been commissioned to provide OOH services and assist local patients, the demand for emergency ambulances and the rate of referral to A&E has dropped. Our innovative use of telephone triage by qualified nurses and the supplementing of GPs for home visiting and Primary Care Centre (PCC) services mean that patients are receiving faster, better care and advice than was previously possible.

The Department of Health has provided OOH commissioners with a template three year contract. We have an established track record in working with our commissioners to develop local models of care that are appropriate throughout the lifetime of the contractual period. We do this by agreeing a short term and a medium / long term period over the course of the contract’s lifetime. Each plan is unique in so far as it necessarily reflects local circumstances and priorities. By embedding the PCT’s objectives into a contract with Harmoni, commissioners have absolute confidence that we can help meet their care and financial objectives.

Download our OOH service datasheet here.

Download our OOH case study here.