Agenda item

Report to be circulated separately.

The Committee received an update from James Slater, Director of Performance and Primary Care at Haringey TPCT, on the implementation of key projects within the “World-Class Primary Care” programme. The update covered progress relating to consultation, the transport and access study, community survey, neighbourhood development planning, Hornsey Central, The Laurels, Lordship Lane and IT systems.

The Chair invited a number of interested parties to address the Committee. Local residents expressed concern regarding the lack of consultation on or scrutiny of the fundamental principles behind the 10 year strategy for primary care, including the plans for polyclinics and the “contestability” element of the procurement process for services. Residents also expressed concern regarding the lack of information available on the specific services that would be in place at Hornsey Central by the time of its planned opening. Dave Morris of the Stop Haringey Health Cuts coalition called for an additional meeting of the Committee for an in-depth review of the proposals. 

In response to questions and comments from the public, Mr Slater denied that there had been a lack of consultation and reported that the TCPT was making great efforts to meet the expectations of service users; lessons learned from the Laurels consultation included the need to consult and involve clinicians at an earlier stage, and the value of using external organisations to facilitate consultation. Responding to concerns raised regarding the recruitment of volunteers by an external agency to look at mobility and access issues, Mr Slater reported that this was an example of the TPCT commissioning work to test the proposals and that specific points raised regarding the process would be responded to outside the meeting. It was reported that “contestability” within the procurement process was a legal requirement under procurement law.

It was reported that a special meeting would be convened when the Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs) were published in April 2009, and that there were four local consultation processes proposed to consider the four Plans in detail. The Neighbourhood Development Plans would contain detailed information on the transport and access survey, and all the data from the survey would be made available to anyone interested on request. Mr Slater apologised that there had been no response to an email requesting information on the services and providers already agreed for Hornsey Central, and reported that the NDP would help to inform the services appropriate at the site in future, and shape the consultation process.

In response to a question from the public, it was confirmed that the proposals would be Compact compatible, as signed up to by the TPCT. In respect of individual experiences relating to primary care services in the borough, Mr Slater would discuss resident’s specific feedback with them outside the meeting.

The Committee requested updates on the issue of a health centre site for the Wood Green area, and also the cessation of GP services in Stuart Crescent. Mr Slater responded that discussions were taking place regarding a possible site in the Wood Green area, and it was hoped that further information could be provided at the next meeting. It was reported that closure at Stuart Crescent was the result of the retirement of a local GP, but that investment was taking place at a site across the road from the GP that was closing down to enable two other GP practices to provide services for a larger list of patients in same locality. 

The Committee asked for further details on the transport and access study; Mr Slater reported that the study did include baseline data of the current transport situation for comparison purposes, and that the full report would set out whether average journey times and frequency of transport services had been taken into account in the report’s findings. Mr Slater hoped that further details on discussions with TfL could be brought to the next meeting. In response to a question from the Committee on the footcare strategy, Mr Slater reported that money was available for non-medical footcare, and that he could provide contact details for further information to those who were interested.

Responding to a question from the Committee about the current situation in North Tottenham, Mr Slater reported that service gaps had been identified in that area, and that preliminary talks were taking place with Tottenham Hotspur FC regarding possible health facilities as part of the new stadium development. Councillors expressed concern about pursuing only one option in this area, and were assured by Mr Slater that other options were being looked into.

The Committee asked about the monitoring of out of hours services and the issue of GPs expanding beyond capacity. Mr Slater reported that the contract for out of hours provision was monitored very closely, particularly in relation to the calibre of the individuals employed, and that any concerns raised regarding GP practices expanding beyond capacity would be acted on.

In response to a question regarding healthcare provision in Green Lanes and the specific needs of non-English speakers,  Mr Slater reported that the Neighbourhood Development Plans would cover issues such as this and would promote further discussion with residents on how the needs of the area could best be met. The Committee asked whether there would be an opportunity for the development boards to include local people, and it was confirmed that ways of involving local people in the process were currently being explored.

The Committee emphasised that it was important for details of services at Hornsey Central be brought to the Committee for consideration at the very earliest opportunity, and looked forward to the discussions that would be held around the NDPs when they were published.

RESOLVED

That the content of the report and responses to questions be noted.