Endocrine Abstracts

What is outstanding care in Endocrinology? Are we personally, departmentally and nationally delivering this and how can we network to prevent wide variance in experience for patients? Where can we really add value? What outcome measures do we have to help us, using a top down systemic evidence base and bottom up individualised care to achieve change? Reducing the variation in delivery of care within our hospitals (beyond our specialty), can we minimise threats to safety (and litigation)? A combination of evidence and standards alongside a ‘person-centred’ approach can provide holistic, timely care, with improved patient partnership at the centre (when willing and able). Adopting a less traditional ‘paternalistic’ model of care is potentially a cost efficient and effective solution. There are a number of potential opportunities and strengths of improved partnership with patients and support charities, exploring what is important to patients, through systemic engagement, noting particular challenges from the expectations of patients; for example when negotiating results and opinions from alternative providers, not necessarily following evidenced based practice. These challenges and opportunities will be discussed, including how we consider training and population needs, whilst rationalising care. It will use personal experience through leading the Society for Endocrinology Peer Review, Chairing the Specialist Advisory Committee for specialty trainees and as a trustee of the Pituitary Foundation, as well as being a parent relying on NHS services. It will challenge where we sit on the ‘bell shaped curve’ when delivering care, including case examples and areas of excellence in clinical practice. A bottom up, patient centred model of care. First do no harm.