Ministers have commissioned another independent evaluation of the government’s redesign of urgent care programme which has been beset with problems and missed targets.

Consultancy firm Stantec will receive £84,180 to complete ‘two evaluation projects as core components of an ongoing programme of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the Redesign of Urgent Care (RUC) in the NHS’.

More than £40m has been spent on reforms to change the way the public access urgent care and reduce pressure on A&E departments.

Under the changes introduced at the end of 2020, the public are asked to call 111 instead of taking themselves to A&E, when they have a problem that is not life-threatening.

A report published at the end of last year found the programme had reduced attendances by just 200 patients a day.

Report authors Professor Derek Bell and Sir Lewis Ritchie said the programme needs ‘review and rapid refinement to deliver benefits for patients and the system’ amid concerns over low usage and patients facing delays when calling 111. 

The contract published today says Stantec’s findings will inform future government strategy and policy, and improvements in service delivery.

Stantec opened its Glasgow office at the end of 2019 and has since been contracted to conduct the St Andrews Transport Study and a community engagement survey for the development of the proposed Shetland Way.

The consultancy firm has been described as a ‘global leader in sustainable design and engineering‘ and its website says the company ‘plans, designs, delivers and manages the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities’.

Read more: £40m spent on "small" impact urgent care reforms; £20m urgent care reforms need "rapid refinement"; Excess deaths warning as long waits in A&E surge

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