Telephone reviews of chronic illnesses

[摘要] We write in response to the news that national arbiters for the GP contract are to rule on whether telephone reviews for patients with asthma count towards Quality and Outcome Framework targets.1 Not to allow this would be a major setback to those who are developing and implementing innovative service provision models, which aim to increase access and offer choice of routine care to patients with long-term illnesses. The decision by West Wiltshire, and Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trusts, not to allow telephone-based asthma reviews, may be charitably described as unnecessarily restrictive in their interpretation of the contract; although cynics may speculate that this is a cost-saving exercise in the aftermath of practices' unexpected ‘over performance’ in achieving quality targets.

[学科分类] 卫生学