Consultant physicians are at the forefront of delivering care to patients presenting to hospital with medical emergencies. Delivering this care depends on competent and expert clinical staff, organised with optimal working arrangements to match patient demand, supported by the right level of resources and facilities.
This toolkit focuses on the delivery of high-quality acute care, looking at current problem areas and factors threatening care delivery, and suggesting a range of recommendations for improving quality. It is accompanied by two appendices: the RCP position statement on out-of-hours care, and guidance notes on the provision of 12-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week consultant care.