Abstract
The Royal College of Physicians and Society of Acute Medicine have proposed the introduction of Acute Care Quality Indicators. These include the need for rapid initial patient assessment and instigation of a management plan.1 Reductions in junior doctor working hours may impact on our ability to meet these standards. We present the result of a service review of 297 consecutive admissions to a large acute medical unit. This has identified a marked dichotomy between waiting times during daytime and out-of-hours, despite appropriate response to initial triage. We conclude that further service redevelopment is required to reach the standards proposed in the current Acute Care Quality Indicators.
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References
- RCPE UK Consensus statement on Acute Medicine. The Society of Acute Medicine (Internet). November 2010 (cited 20th December 2010).
Available from: http://www.acutemedicine.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81%3Aacute-care-quality-andperformance-indicators&catid=72& Itemid=30 - Ahmed-Little Y. The European Working Time Directive 2003. British Journal of Health Care Management 2006; 12: 371-374.
- Marron CD, Byrnes CK, Nirk SJ. An EWTD-compliant rota decreases training opportunities; Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 2005; 87(7): 246-248.
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