Clinicians', policy makers' and patients' views of pediatric cross-border care between Malta and the UK.
Saliba, Vanessa;
Muscat, Natasha Azzopardi;
Vella, Mairi;
Montalto, Simon Attard;
Fenech, Charlene;
McKee, Martin;
Knai, Cécile;
(2014)
Clinicians', policy makers' and patients' views of pediatric cross-border care between Malta and the UK.
Journal of health services research & policy, 19 (3).
pp. 153-160.
ISSN 1355-8196
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819614521408
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OBJECTIVE: The Malta-UK cross-border health care collaboration gives Maltese patients access to highly specialized care that is not available locally. Our aim was to identify the issues that arise in cross-border specialized care for rare childhood diseases. METHODS: We conducted 31 semi-structured face-to-face interviews with policy makers, consultant pediatricians from Mater Dei Hospital in Malta, the Royal Marsden Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital in England and the parents of a random sample of children referred for treatment abroad in 2011. We conducted qualitative thematic analysis of the data. RESULTS: Respondents viewed the collaboration as successful in providing timely access to high quality specialist care. Four factors facilitated implementation: long established personal relationships; communication and data sharing; shared care approach; and well established support systems. The key challenges are logistical, financial, communication and cultural and psychological. CONCLUSION: Cross-border care pathways can successfully support access to high quality specialized care that is acceptable to health professionals and patients.
