Issue - meetings

The Panel will hear evidence from Members:

• Councillor Bob Harris, Executive Member for Adult Social Care & Well Being

Councillor Harris

Councillor Harris presented a response to the Primary Care Strategy as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Well Being. 

·        It was noted that there were aspects of the strategy which were positive and which were to be welcomed. 

·        The most pressing observation of the Primary Care Strategy was that it was clearly grounded within the medical model of health.  As a result, if there were criticisms of the strategy, it was that the proposals concentrated too much on ill-health and further development of health services.  This approach failed to recognise the wider social determinants of health which were very important in places like Haringey.  Further consideration of the primary care strategy may be necessary to ensure that the broader well being agenda is being met.

·        The provision of social care services is important, especially for those with long-term health conditions.  Further attention should be paid to how social care will be provided within the super health centre model of services, particularly at to how services will work in partnership to support the needs of patients. 

·        The Local Authority would like to engage further with the PCT to ensure that objectives set out in the Primary Care Strategy are acknowledged and supported in local planning processes.

·        Given the relocation of services and the likely increase in distance that patients may have to travel to access services, the Primary Care Strategy has clear transport implications and concerns.  Accessibility concerns were heightened given that two of the planned new super health centres were located outside the borough (Archway Hospital, NMH).

·        With such wide ranging changes proposed within the strategy, particularly those that involved local service reorganisation, the Local Authority is aware of the potential for ‘cost shunting’.  In this context, there was a need for the PCT to provide further details around the financial plan to support the development of the Primary Care Strategy. 

·        Further information is required from the PCT as to longer term plans for established health centres in the borough (e.g. Tynemouth Road, Bounds Green) and how plans for these services are acknowledged within the Primary Care Strategy. 

·        The provision of only 4 super health centres within the borough would be unacceptable without maintenance / or further development of other primary care facilities (health centres/ GP surgeries).

·        Further clarification was needed from the PCT as to how super health centres would operate, particularly those located on multiple sites (i.e. St Ann’s, Laurels).