Agenda and minutes

Councillor Walker declared a personal interest in any item relating to the Radcliffe Pilot as the medical centre he was registered with fell within that pilot.

Councillor Grimshaw declared a personal interest in any item relating the CCG as she was a member of the Patients' Cabinet.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27^th January 2015 are attached.

It was agreed:

That the Minutes of the Last Meeting held on 27 January 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

1.     Councillor Walker referred to Minute HSC.645 – Better Care Fund Submission and referred to the resolution that an update would be brought to a future meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Walker asked if a more specific timeframe could be given so that it was ensured that the action was followed up.

Councillor Bury explained that the forward plan of the Committee would be the first item that the new Committee would discuss at the first meeting of the 2015/2016 Municipal Year.

Linda Jackson, Assistant Director explained that the Better Care fund would commence in April 2015 and it would be likely that a report be brought to this Committee around October 2015.

The Chair of the GP Federation, John Boyington and the Chief Officer, Michelle Armstrong will report at the meeting.  Background information is attached.

John Boyington, Chair of the Bury GP Federation presented members with an update on the work of the GP Federation and focussing on the successful Prime Minister's Challenge Fund bid.

It was explained that the GP Federation was a company Limited by shares which was incorporated in November 2103. There were originally 26 GP practice members who jointly invested £250 000 to establish the federation and a further 4 had since joined.

It was explained that the GP Federation had been commissioned to work with the Radcliffe GP practices to help set up and operate the Healthier Radcliffe Pilot.

Work had also been carried out to assist with the winter pressures that GP surgeries were under during the winter season and had seen surgeries providing extra hours to assist with this.

The objective of the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund had been to:-

·                     Pilot improvements in access to appointments;

·                     Promote innovation, share learning and deliver benefits to patients;

·                     Explore a variety of ways to extend access including:

        - Longer opening hours

        - Greater flexibility of access - e.g. multiple site access

        - Greater use of

·                     Technology

·                    Online services

·                    Telehealth

The GP federation had submitted the 'Bury Easy-GP'  bid which was presented as a document setting out vision and ambition and included:

·                     Extended working hours -

        6.30 - 8pm Monday to Friday

        8am - 6pm Saturday and Sunday 

·                     Increasing the number of patients registered for online access

·                     Offering telephone consultations to all patients instead of face to face

·                     Developing a comparison style website.

John reported that the proposed models for service delivery had been accepted by all members who are collaborating to increase online registration, a telephone consultation option and to deliver extended working hours.

The extended working hours model was based on having 5 sites strategically placed around the borough with a planned offering of 1420 extra appointments per week. It was explained that currently all partner GPs were being given the option to work extended hours at a rate of £80 ph. Those GPs offering the extended hours would have read and write access to all Bury patients' medical records which would allow for a bury patient to access any of the sites across the borough.

It was explained that the service was just ramping up to capacity and there had been issues with IT.

The extended working hours was currently at 50% of the expected capacity providing an extra 700 appointment per week.

There was currently no prescription printing solution available.

GPs had been slow to come forward but recruitment was now picking up.

John reported that the initial funding from the Challenge Fund would deliver services to May 2015. Additional funds had however been allocated which would extend services to November 2015 and allow for further evaluation     

The Clinical Commissioning Group were committed to funding an Extended Working Hours service but were waiting for the evaluation feedback before determining how the service would be delivered.

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make  ...  view the full minutes text for item HSC.690

The Chair of the GP Federation, John Boyington and the Chief Officer, Michelle Armstrong will report at the meeting.

John Boyington, Chair of the Bury GP Federation gave a presentation explaining the background, objectives and progress of the Healthier Radcliffe pilot and the initial results and feedback following 12 months operation of the scheme.

It was explained that the objectives of Healthier Radcliffe were:-

1.

·                     Extend access to local GP and primary care services at one point of access

·                     Access to local GP s 8 am - 8pm  Monday to Friday and 8am - 6pm Saturday and Sunday

·                     Patients will be seen by a local clinician who has access to their health records 

2.

·                     Integrating other providers and partners such as hospitals, commuity and social services to provide better joined up care in the community at one point of contact

·                     Health education and information programmes.

The progress made was explained:-

1.

·                     Planning carried out between July and September 2013

·                     Design, agreement, IT enablement, mobilisation and communication delivered over 3 months enabling governance structures

·                     Successful service went live 2 December 2013 providing 1000 appointments each month

2.

·                     Two integrated workshops held October 2013 and February 2014

·                     Provider bids invited and submitted during June/July 2914

·                     'Well being' commissioners review of bids feeding into GP Federation approval on 3 August 2014

·                     Enhanced project management August 2014

·                     Services mobilised between October 2014 and January 2015.

John reported that four projects had been added to Healthier Radcliffe and these were:-

·                     North West Ambulance Service - "Green Car" Paramedic which had seen a 60% deflection of 999 calls

·                     Multi disciplinary Team and Reablement

·                     Domiciliary Medication Optimisation - targeting the 200 patients with the most complex medication needs

·                     Targeted Early Intervention

There had been significant media coverage of Healthier Radcliife and all attendances of Radcliffe patients at hospital had reduced in all 4 areas. It was also reported that walk in centre activity had reduced and patient feedback was positive.

It was explained that the first draft of the evaluation report was due to be received by the GP Federation in mid February 2015.

John also reported that Healthier Radcliffe had been nominated for a British Medical Journal Award and some of the staff working on the scheme were attending a parliamentary event in London to celebrate good working practices.

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:-

·                     Councillor FitzGerald asked whether there were any indications that new patients were now attending as appointment times were more accessible.

John stated that he was not aware of this but it could be a possibility.

·                     Councillor Walker referred to the fact that Mile Lane Surgery was included within the scheme even though it was located in Bury and asked whether the figures would include the Mile Lane Surgery patients.

It was explained that if they had attended the services provided then they would be included in the figures.

It was agreed:

1. That the information be noted

2. That the outcome of the evaluation be reported to the Committee when it had been finalised.