Medical solutions
GP out of hours
GSL has a broad base of primary care experience within its management teams and contracted partners. Whenever possible, our aim is also to build partnerships with subcontractors that significantly add to our customer offering and allow us the flexibility to cope with the changing demands within healthcare delivery.
Background
Out of hours GP services have evolved since the rapid expansion of deputising during the 1980s and introduction of GP Cooperatives in the 1990s. Over the last 25 years there has been an acknowledgement that the gradually increasing out of hours demand for medical services cannot be managed by GP partners alone without detriment to increasingly complex daytime duties.
The new GP contract in 2004 which allowed separation of out of hours work from daytime clinical contracts has dramatically changed the landscape for primary medical care in the last two years. The GP contract combined with the formalising of patient service requirements following the Carson report in 2000 has shaped delivery of out of hours care and the market continues to mature.
The challenge for providers now is to blend out of hours medical care with the in hours clinical work to create a seamless 24 hour service for patients on a national scale. Associated clinical governance and prompt management of care by an appropriate professional is the key performance target for GSL.
Partnership approach
GSL is committed to innovative partnerships with Primary Care Trusts that deliver flexible, reliable and efficient clinical services. Our objective is to provide value for money and also be responsive to patient needs. GSL takes a methodical approach to the agreement of customer specifications and this helps to deliver continuous improvement in all aspects of its service.
Public sector experience
The suitability of GSL as a reliable and innovative partner is demonstrated by:
- more than 15 years experience of successful partnerships within the public sector
- existing long term contracts that underline our commitment to the public sector
- a track record of excellent service delivery
- innovation that delivers improved value and better patient care
- an ability to work with customers to achieve common objectives
- well managed employee engagement and TUPE transfers
Our medical solutions are directed and managed by GP trained specialists and other clinical entrepreneurs.
Company diversity and resources
GSL has extensive business relationships with the National Health Service, Department of Education, Ministry of Defence and Home Office. The company also operates contracts that have medical dimensions in South Africa and Australia. With a worldwide turnover of £400 million per annum and 9000 employees our major contracts include:
- NHS Primary Care LIFT building, development and operational work
- PFI hospital building and maintenance projects (e.g. Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Churchill Hospital)
- Ambulance services throughout major areas of South East England
- Provision of helpdesk services
- Facilities management within large public buildings such as GCHQ at Cheltenham and the Met Office in Exeter
- 24 hour healthcare within the GSL Care & Justice Services division
- PFI school building and maintenance programmes (Building Schools for the Future)
Customer care
GSL prides itself on good customer service and understands that delivery of out of hours General Practice work is a particularly sensitive as well as prominent component of primary care in the community. By drawing on extensive experience in the field of it’s directors GSL can commit to the following:
- out of hours GP service design and provision of full procurement specifications as required
- first hand assessment of current service provision by GSL medical directors who are out of hours GP experts
- flexible and responsive out of hours services to meet the needs of the communities served
- appropriate allocation of resources at the right times and in the right places
- compliance with all NICE guidelines and clinical governance protocols
- continuous assessment, development and training of staff
- accurate audits of performance together with continuous feedback to patients as well as staff and the PCT
- fleet and transport management for patients
Central to GSL as a company is our approach to staff recruitment and training. Our divisions operate in a broad range of sensitive areas and are accustomed to rigorous staff selection. GSL has a history and culture of positive people management. Our policies and procedures have evolved to support our ‘can do’ environment of staff motivation and development of the individual.