Health Department introduces new initiatives to ensure better service delivery

The Department of Health has promised to follow through in its commitment to provide strong service delivery particularly with respect to Primary Care.

“In many instances Primary Care remains the most effective way of delivering health care. This is particularly true where an aging population with long term conditions can add considerable strain on the national health service,” said the Health Department. With this in mind, the Department of Health has taken a number of initiatives aimed at improving service delivery from its Primary Health Centres.

“With a view to continuously improve both patient safety and efficiency, Primary Health management draws up and periodically revises procedures aimed at streamlining service delivery from its Centres.”

One such protocol in force - as drawn up in July 2013 in accordance with the February 2013 collective agreement signed with the Medical Association of Malta - deals with the handling of home visits requests by general practitioners deployed with Primary Health.

According to the guidelines in this case, house visit calls would be examined by a general practitioner/trainee who decides whether requests merit an actual house visit or any other form of intervention. According to the health department, guidelines cannot of course bind in any way the general practitioner from taking a justified decision based on his own professional judgement.

“Depending on individual circumstances, when handling requests over the phone a general practitioner can direct patients to attend a clinic as a walk-in case; refer them for immediate attention in the treatment room; make an appointment for some later stage; perform a home visit with or without an ambulance; or give advice over the phone.”

The Department of Health has pledged its relentless commitment to provide robust service delivery across all its entities. In doing so the Department of Health relies grossly on the resolute support and dedication of the vast spectrum of professionals employed within and who all come together to give the patient the ultimate health care experience.