Patients 'compromised' by late information
Doctors say discharge information is often late or incomplete
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Thursday, 29, Mar 2007 11:55
Patient health is being compromised because information from hospitals is not being passed to GPs quickly enough, doctors have warned.
In a survey by the NHS Alliance, 58 per cent of GPs said patient care had been adversely affected in the last year because of delays in getting records from hospitals.
A further 39 per cent said patient safety had been put at risk by these delays.
Doctors also said that as well as being late, discharge information was often incomplete or vague.
In one case, a discharge sheet failed to mention that a patient had spent a week in intensive care after suffering a heart attack, while others were missing the patient's name or other basic details.
The NHS Alliance said that while some primary care trusts are already taking action on the issue, the government should consider withholding payments until timely and accurate information is provided to GPs.
"This widespread problem reveals an institutionalised, though unconscious, contempt for primary care - and for the patient in primary care too," said NHS Alliance chair, Mike Dixon.
"It demonstrates the current weakness of commissioner/provider relations."
He added: "The answer is to make sure payments to all providers depend on their delivering what is required, including timely accurate discharge information to a minimum standard."
The NHS Alliance, which is an independent body representing primary care, canvassed 651 GPs as part of its report.