Agenda item

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.

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 discussed the lack of public confidence in the 111 national phone triage service.  Dr Patel reported the use of the 111 number is encouraged nationally, however following feedback from the engagement phase, the proposals have been altered to include a local GP number.

The Chief Operating Officer clarified that the new health and social care integrated hubs will be staffed by a multi-disciplinary team and still include a walk in service.

Responding to members concerns in respect of navigating the new system, the CCG Chair reported that the Integrated Hubs will benefit those in the Borough that are elderly or living with a long term conditions.  A number of different services will be provided in the same place thus reducing the need to attend multiple appointments at multiple venues.

In response to a Members question, the CCG Chair reported that it is envisaged that between 30 and 40% of patient traffic will be diverted from A&E to the new Urgent Treatment Centre.  Similar facilities will be available at North Manchester General Hospital and Bolton Hospital.

The CCG Chair reported that the services provided at the Integrated Hubs will be different to those currently provided at the Walk in Centres, information will be provided to those patients that could have been seen elsewhere (eg a pharmacy) as to the most appropriate facility for their condition.

Members expressed their concerns in respect of problems with GP recruitment and availability of GP appointments.  Responding to those concerns the Chief Operating Officer reported that GPs will be encouraged to work differently and collaboratively.  The CCG Chair reported that the service needs to be delivered differently and as part of Multi-disciplinary teams to create resilience in the system. 

In response to a question from the Chair, the Chief Operating Officer reported that some capital monies will be required to deliver the changes to the Urgent Care system. 

The Chief Operating Officer reported that the measure of the success of the urgent care redesign proposals will be reduced attendances at A&E and consistent achievement of the 4 hour waiting target.

The proposed changes were part of the Locality Plan submission which were submitted to the GM devolution team.

   It was agreed:

1. That Dr Kiran Patel, Chair of Bury Clinical Commissioning Group and Stuart North, Chief Operating Officer Bury Clinical Commissioning Group be thanked for their attendance.

2. That the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee support the Urgent Care Redesign proposals as presented by Bury Clinical Commissioning Group.