INQUIRY UNDERWAY ON OUT OF HOURS' HEALTHCARE IN THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

4.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 28th Sep 2009

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, is urging people from across the South of Scotland to submit their views on out of hours' medical provision in rural areas to the Scottish Parliament's Health Committee.

The Health Committee is carrying out an inquiry into out of hours' care in rural areas and the deadline for submissions is 6th November 2009.

Jim Hume said:

"The inquiry will examine the changes to out of hours' provision in rural areas and the effect these changes have had on the quality of services; the accessibility and availability of out of hours' care; and the sustainability and cost of out of hours' care in rural areas.

"The work of the Committee will be important in identifying where there are possible weaknesses in the out of hours' system and where improvements can be made.

"I am pleased that the Committee is looking at this issue with a rural focus and would encourage individuals and local health or patient groups to submit their experience of the out of hours' provision in their area."

ENDS

Notes to editors.

The detail on how to submit evidence is shown below:-

To inform the inquiry, the Committee is seeking views on the following questions:

1. What do you think is the most sustainable and cost-effective way to provide adequate out-of-hours services in rural areas?

2. What are your views on the quality of out-of-hours care provided in rural areas, in particular clinical safety and effectiveness?

3. What are your views on the accessibility and availability of out-of-hours care in rural areas?

4. How well do you think NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service links in with existing out-of-hours services?

How to submit your evidence

The closing date for written submission is Friday 6 November 2009. Owing to the timescale required to process and analyse evidence, late submissions will only be accepted with the prior agreement of the Convener. Responses should be no more than four sides of A4 in length.

Responses should be sent, where possible, electronically in Word format to the following address:

healthandsportcommittee@scottish.parliament.uk

You may also make hard copy written submissions to:

Health and Sport Committee

T3.60

Scottish Parliament

EH99 1SP

Before submitting your evidence you should the attached information on "what we will do with your evidence".

What happens next?

The Committee will consider all submissions received and identify issues emerging from the evidence which it wishes to investigate further through oral evidence sessions.

A list of organisations and individuals participating in oral evidence sessions will be published on the Committee agenda papers in advance of the relevant meeting.

Should you require alternative formats of this document or have any other queries about the call for evidence, please do note hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Seán Wixted

Assistant Clerk, Health and Sport Committee