Theresa Barnes

Theresa Barnes, clinical lead for outpatients Royal College of Physicians, London NW1 4LE, UK Outpatient care has been overlooked in policy and planning. The upcoming 10 year plan for health is an opportunity to rethink and reform the system, writes Theresa Barnes. Every day, I see patients let down by a system that has not kept up with modern healthcare. Outpatient care—where patients receive planned specialist input without a hospital stay—is meant to provide timely, coordinated support.

John Dean, clinical vice president, Theresa Barnes, clinical lead for outpatient care Royal College of Physicians, London NW1 4LE, UK john.dean{at}rcp.ac.uk Oliver challenges the NHS England targets around outpatient appointments.1 He references the work that the Royal College of Physicians is leading with NHS England on building a strategy for outpatient care for the future.2 This work is a true co-production approach involving patients and carers and health and care professionals from all...

Dear Editor New and follow up outpatient appointments – out of date concepts. David Oliver challenges the NHS England targets around outpatient appointments. He also references the work that the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is leading with NHS England on building a strategy for outpatient care for the future. The RCP has outlined what should be expected practice in modern outpatient care (1), but these aspects of care, training and evaluation are far from consistently delivered.