Issue - meetings

Members and Officers to feedback from consultation events that have been attended.

Panel members had participated in a number of consultation events hosted by HTPCT.  Members relayed some of the main issues to arise from discussions at public consultations they had visited.

·        There was a strong feeling expressed at some consultation events that there was gap between health needs and the design proposal for super health centres.  In particular, there was anxiety as to how the super health centre model would redress health inequalities.  More importantly, how services would be encouraged to operate from areas where they are most needed.

·        Transport was a major concern at the consultation events, where members of the public were anxious about the additional distance that they may have to travel to access services.

·        There was positive feedback from the public about the possible reduction in the number of single handed GPs that the Primary Care Strategy may address and the possible extension of services from new super health centre sites.

·        There were a number of questions at the consultation events concerning the provision of pharmacy services at the super health centres and the impact that this would have on local community pharmacy provision.

·        It was noted that HTPCT would develop the polyclinic model along two possible pathways: as large stand alone super health centres or as a ‘hub and spoke model’ working closely with a number of local GPs.

·        The public also desired further information about the nature and level of services available from the super health centres.