An external evaluation of the introduction of NHS 24 is published today by the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Glamorgan, Edinburgh and Sheffield.
Commissioned in 2001 by the Scottish Executive Health Department, the study's aim was to examine NHS 24 activity and its impact on other services, patient perspectives of the new service, the cost of NHS 24 and how the service was implemented as it rolled out across Scotland.
David Heaney, Associate Director of the University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Rural Health, jointly led the study with Dr Kate O’Donnell from the University of Glasgow. He said: “Our work delivers detailed examination of service delivery before and after the introduction of NHS 24, and a systematic analysis that provides a benchmark of the performance of the service.”
"A separate independent review of NHS 24, requested by Health Minister Andy Kerr, reported earlier this year and was led by Owen Clarke. It highlighted a number of the service's key challenges, and many of those are echoed within this evaluation."
To view a summary of the report see: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/crh/documents/NHS24evaluationshortreport.pdf
To view the full report see:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/crh/documents/NHS24evaluationfullreport.pdf