Quarter of physicians say continuity of care is poor in their hospital

In addition, over a quarter (27%) believe that their hospital is poor or very poor at delivering stable medical teams for patient care and education.

The results reinforce previous RCP concerns for the increasing pressures that NHS Trusts are facing due to the rise in acute admissions, the ageing population with increasingly complex conditions, and cuts in budgets and staffing.

In order to address all these issues, the President of the RCP is setting up a Commission on the Future Hospital, to look at the organisation, processes and standards of care in hospital in order to identify the best way to treat medical inpatients in the future. This Future Hospital Commission was first discussed at RCP Council in November 2011, and will be chaired by Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, begin in March, and will have five workstreams:

• People (medical teams, handover, communication)
• Data (patient records, medical information, audit)
• Place (medical wards, the patient pathway, generalists and specialists)
• Planning infrastructure (radiology, laboratory , pharmacy and support staff, interfaces with community and primary care)
• Patients and compassion (leadership and responsibility, MDTs, end of life care)

This work will cover the main areas of care highlighted by physicians in the survey where the RCP should undertake significant policy work:

• High quality of care, 7 days a week – 64%
• Continuity of care as the norm – 62%
• Stable medical teams for patient care and education – 54%

Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, chair of the Commission, said:

I am delighted to chair the Future Hospital Commission, which could not come at a more appropriate time. As the Commission begins, it will be able to take into account the changes to the commissioning and care delivery processes of the NHS arising from the Health and Social Care Bill, and the conclusions of the Francis Inquiry, both of which will underpin our work in improving care for the medical patient.

Professor Tim Evans, RCP academic vice-president and chair of the operational steering group said;

For years the RCP has been improving the care of the acute medical patient by prompting changes in the organisation of care and developing the speciality of acute medicine. However, many intransigent problems remain, and this latest survey shows that consultant physicians are particularly worried about continuity of care and how to maintain stable medical teams for patient care. The Commission will look at these issues in a wider and comprehensive way, with the patient at the centre.

Suzie Hughes, chair of the RCP patient and carer network, said:

Over the past few decades, care has often been reorganised around the patient without actually involving the patient voice. It is vital that the Commission captures the patient experience as it looks to improve care, and that the final recommendations will have the patient at the centre. Patients are often able to pick up on good practice that can be missed within the system. That good practice is incredibly important in helping to inform the development of hospitals of the future. I am particularly pleased that one of the workstreams is dedicated to ensure that this happens.

Sir Richard Thompson, RCP president, said:

I am delighted that Sir Michael has agreed to chair this Commission, which will be the most significant RCP report for a generation. We plan that the report will be presented to RCP Council in the Spring of 2013, but our work will not end at that point, it will have only just begun. Our challenge will be to implement the recommendations against a background of financial stringency and an NHS in the grip of reorganisation.

The Future Hospital Commission will begin in March, and is expected to be finalised by Spring 2013. For further information and interviews with Professor Tim Evans, please contact Linda Cuthbertson, head of PR, on +44 (0)203 075 1254 / 0774 877 7919, or email Linda.Cuthbertson@rcplondon.ac.uk