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RACGP releases new standards for after-hours and medical deputising services
The RACGP has released its Standards for after-hours and medical deputising services (5th edition).
The Standards incorporate quality and safety standards for services providing after-hours care.
The RACGP Standards for after-hours and medical deputising services (5th edition) (the Standards) were developed by the RACGP Expert Committee – Standards for General Practices (REC–SGP) with several stakeholder consultations, including being piloted nationally with a variety of after-hours and medical deputising services.
To be accredited against the Standards, a service must first meet the RACGP's definition of an after-hours or medical deputising service for the purposes of accreditation. Similar to the requirements for general practices, the after-hours and medical deputising services would then be required to meet the Indicators in the following modules:
- Core
- Quality improvement
- After-hours and medical deputising services
The Core and Quality improvement modules have been contextualised to the after-hours healthcare setting.
Professor Glynn Kelly, Chair of the REC–SGP, acknowledged the release of the Standards as an important resource for after-hours and medical deputising services.
‘The RACGP has developed the Standards with the purpose of protecting patients from harm by improving the quality and safety of services,’ he told
newsGP.
‘The new modular structure of the Standards has allowed the RACGP to develop modules for different settings, and in this instance, the
Standards for after-hours and medical deputising services covers quality and safety standards that are unique to services providing care in the after-hours period,’ he said.
‘The Standards also support services in identifying and addressing any gaps in their systems and processes.’
Professor Kelly also highlighted the fact that the new Standards aim to support the provision of safe and quality after-hours care.
‘Patients receiving urgent care during after-hours should receive the same quality of care as during normal hours from their regular GP, and the patient’s regular GP should expect prompt next-day feedback, to enable comprehensive care.’
From 1 March 2019, all after-hours and medical deputising services seeking accreditation will be assessed against the requirements of these Standards.
The
Standards for after-hours and medical deputising services (5th edition) is available to download from the RACGP
website.
accreditation after-hours Medical deputising services Standards
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