Scots confused about emergency services

May 24 2005

Whether it's a life threatening emergency or a routine problem such as a chesty cough, research released today (Wednesday 25 May 2005) from Developing Patient Partnerships (DPP) shows that people just don't know what to do.

More than two-thirds (71%) of patients would rather choose what health service to use when they are unwell, however, findings from today's research shows that many may be wasting their time using the wrong services or worse still, may simply find their expectations cannot be met.

Worryingly, eight out of 10 people in Scotland who took part in the survey think that they would be seen more quickly in an Accident and Emergency Department if they arrive by ambulance, regardless of their problem. Although the majority of people (84%) said they would always call for an ambulance if they thought the situation was an emergency, one in 10 Scots still said that they found it difficult to know which service to use in an emergency.

People are also confused about GP services. Most people (72%) mistakenly think that GPs are required to visit them at home on demand despite the fact that home visits made at the discretion of the GP when clinically necessary. The survey also found that 16% of patients are not sure what they should call their GP out of hours for.

Dr David Love, joint chairman of the BMA's Scottish General Practitioners Committee, said:

"It is worrying that so many people are confused about how to access the right health service. Findings that as many as 15% of people in Scotland don't know which service to use, even for a routine problem, are of particular concern.

"There have been many changes to the delivery of NHS services in recent years and it is vital that people have the information they need to help them make an informed choice about where, when and how they can access services for both routine and emergency situations.

"The Scottish Executive quite rightly wants to make the NHS more patient-centred but it must arm people with the information they need. Improving the public's awareness about how best to access their local NHS can help doctors and other health professionals provide the most effective care in the most appropriate setting."

http://www.bma.org.uk