Agenda item

Tracy Evans and Deborah Jones will attend the meeting to provide an update.  Report is attached.

Dr Patel, Chair Bury CCG and Stuart North, Chief Operating Officer, Bury CCG attended the meeting to provide an overview of the proposed plans for a new model of Urgent Care within the Borough.  An accompanying report had been circulated to members prior to the meeting and contained information about the context, the engagement and consultation already undertaken, the original proposal, the new proposal, the preferred model and the next steps.

The CCG Chair provided members with an overview of the proposals, proposals will include plans for a new Urgent Treatment Centre located at Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, running alongside the accident and emergency department; initially three integrated health and social hubs in Bury, Radcliffe and Prestwich, to offer a range of services, including GP led walk-in services.  NHS 111 service will remain and patients requiring urgent care will be advised to contact the GP in the first instance.

The integrated health and social care hubs will provide a range of services, initially it is propose that they will deliver:

·           GP-Led (including nurse) Walk-In Services

·           Urgent GP appointment requests

·           Access to Bury patient notes (currently not available in WICs)

·           GP Extended Working Hours appointments

·           Wound Care Services

·           Sign posting advice to other services

·           Social Care advice and services

·           Co-ordination of the other services to support patients in the community

Those present were invited to ask questions and the following issues were raised.

Members sought assurances in respect of mental health provision the CCG Chair reported that it is envisaged there will be access to mental health services within the new hubs. 

Responding to a Member’s question, the Chief Operating Officer acknowledged that the CCG have responded to public concerns with regards to the NHS 111 service.  The 111 centre is operated by Northwest Ambulance Service, the nearest call centre is based at the Middlebrook, near Bolton, clinical triage will be undertaken in Bury and calls will be forwarded to Bardoc, a Bury service.

In response to a Member’s question, the Chief Operating Officer reported that it is the CCGs intention to expand the number of HUBs from three to five to include sites in the north of the Borough and appropriate accommodation/premises is currently being sourced.  The CCG Chair reported that the HUBs will offer a holistic range of services, which will include, social workers, nurses, doctors and pharmacy services; staff will also be able to access patient notes.  The HUBs will be able to triage and treat patients will long term conditions, it is envisaged this will relieve pressure from over-stretched A&E departments.

Following feedback from the initial Urgent Care engagement exercise; the CCG Chair reported that there will remain a “walk in” facility at the HUBs in Prestwich and Radcliffe.

In response to a Member’s question the Chief Operating Officer reported that any member of the public can access the walk in facility at the HUBs and access treatment, however if follow up treatment or additional treatment is required if they are registered with a GP out of Borough they will be referred back to their registered GP.

The CCG Chair reported that existing services will remain operational until the new HUBs are established.  The staffing issue at the Prestwich walk in centre has now stabilised.  The CCG Chair reported that proposals rely on GPs identifying resources within their practices, working together to share staff, to help change and shape how services are delivered.

The Chief Operating Officer reported that the Urgent Care Centre at FGH is currently staffed by locums and out of area GPs, conversations are ongoing with GPs within the Borough in respect of them providing the support to provide the service.

Members of the Committee expressed their concern that the changes are proposed at a time of financial constraint and dire staff shortages in the NHS.  The Chief Operating Officer reported that there is a large financial challenge across the NHS, doing nothing is not an option, these proposals coupled with the development of the Local Care Organisations will be the most effective and efficient use of resources.

The CCG Chair reported that newly qualified GPs want more variety in their workload and want to work in wider teams with more opportunities to develop their talents and research skills; these new proposals will provide greater opportunities and will help to retain and recruit GPs. 

   It was agreed:

1                Stuart North, Chief Operating Officer, Bury CCG and Dr Kiran Patel, Chair Bury CCG be thanked for their attendance.

2                The Urgent Care Redesign public consultation will commence on the 29^th January 2018, for six weeks.

3                Representatives from Bury CCG will attend the next meeting of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee scheduled to take place on the 5^th March and will provide an update with regards to the progress of the Urgent Care Redesign consultation.