An update on our work

The RCP outlined what should be expected practice in modern outpatient care in its publication: Modern Outpatient Care – Principles and practice for patient centred outpatient care in April 2023. In this publication, we acknowledged that while excellent care is being delivered, and some innovative examples of patient centred care, many of the fundamental constructs of current services need radical reform.

We were pleased to work with NHS England’s Outpatient Recovery and Transformation Programme and the Patients Association in 2023 to involve and engage patients and carers, and health and care professionals from across sectors, specialities and regions on the current challenges and opportunities with the delivery of planned specialist care. We are pleased that this work has contributed to the NHSE’s Improvement Guide for Outpatient Care.

The release of the Darzi investigation into the NHS in England set out a diagnosis for the problems and issues faced by delivering modern healthcare. The RCP believes that reform of outpatient care must be a part of the government’s announced 10 year plan for health.

In the coming weeks, the RCP will set out its vision for what that reformed planned specialist care should look like, bringing together varied expertise, evidence and the important experience and expectations of patients.

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