PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
OUT OF HOURS PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES (23 March 1998)

That this House recognises that primary care practitioners provide 24 hour medical care, with care in the evening, during the night, at weekends or over bank holidays available only for urgent medical emergencies that cannot wait until the next routine surgery; recognises that the Patient's Charter has led to unrealistic expectations of general practitioners being able to provide 24 hour routine care rather than an out-of-hours emergency service, resulting in a doubling of out-of-hours contacts between 1990 and 1993, and a trend for the public to expect that a doctor should always visit them at home if asked to do so outside surgery hours; supports using the expertise of pharmicists who can advise on minor health problems and over-the-counter medications; welcomes the dramatic change over the last two years in the way care is delivered outside normal hours which is now more flexible, clinically appropriate, effective and efficient, while continuing to ensure that all patients get the best quality of care; recognises that the public is responding positively to these initiatives; congratulates the Doctor Patient Partnership on raising awareness about changes in the delivery of out-of-hours services which ensure the best use of primary care services; and calls on the Government to continue its support for the Doctor Patient Partnership patient education campaign.

Sponsored by:
Dr Howard Stoate (Labour)