A presentation from Rachel Lissauer, Assistant Director of Local Commissioning, NHS Haringey. (3.05 – 3.30PM)
Minutes:
Rachel Lissauer, Assistant Director of Local Commissioning for NHS Haringey, gave a presentation setting out services already relocated to the new centre and plans for the future. Rachel referred to the Queenswood Practice (who had relocated to the centre, and already signed on an additional 2,000 patients), community and district nursing, the new dementia centre, occupational therapy and the new neurology physio gym amongst other services already provided at the centre. Future plans included provision of diagnostic services, ultrasound testing and anti-natal care. She also spoke about the developing relationship between the Hornsey Neighbourhood Health Centre and the Whittington,
Reference was made to the new walk-in out of hours services introduced on a pilot basis in April 2010, which after five months had unfortunately been closed because of resource constraints. Rachel stated that the pilot was now being evaluated in terms of its impact and relationship with other similar services - for example the A&E service at the Whittington Hospital.
Finally Rachel referred to the Patients’ Panel for health services in West Haringey. She stated that the panel met on average every 6 – 8 weeks, with a membership of around 15 patient representatives. The Panel provided an opportunity for NHS Haringey and the GP collaborative to engage patients in service planning. The panel sets its own agenda, and is attended by Chief or Deputy Executive.
Discussion
Following these presentations residents were invited to ask questions.
Question One: Awarding a Contract for Provision of Out of Hours GP Services
It was clarified that the decision not to award this contract to Camidoc was not related to financial restrictions. Rather there were some questions about Camidoc’s viability to deliver the contract, hence the appointment of an alternative contractor.
Question Two: Shortage of GP Practices in Stroud Green / Finsbury Park
A couple of residents strongly argued that there was a shortage of GP provision within Finsbury Park, creating serious problems for Haringey residents living there who were not being accepted by Hackney GP practices. They were being faced with long journeys to reach practices in Crouch End. Reference was made to the complex bus journey required for Finsbury Park residents to reach the new Hornsey Neighbourhood Health Centre.
Given this the residents asked what plans NHS Haringey had to address the shortage of GP provision in Finsbury Park.
The NHS Haringey representatives were not able to answer this question at the meeting, so agreed to provide to provide a full answer for the minutes.
Question Three
A resident questioned the rationale for the decision recently taken to close the walk-in centre at the Hornsey Neighbourhood Health Centre, following completion of the five month pilot. The questioner was concerned about the implications of this decision for the Queenswood Centre, which he understood had specifically recruited staff to resource the walk-in centre and were now presented with a difficult situation.
In response the NHS Haringey representative stressed that the Queenswood Practice had met the requirements set for provision of the service. The decision not continue with the pilot was in no way linked with any questions about the service provided. It was taken in the broader context of NHS finances, which meant it would be important to carefully evaluate the pilot – for example in terms of the way in which it was publicised, any duplication with services at the Whittington etc – to inform a decision on whether to continue with funding the service in the longer term.
Question Four: NHS Reforms
The NHS Haringey representatives were asked their views about the Government’s plans for NHS reforms. This led to a discussion about the involvement of GPs in commissioning, a practice already adopted within Haringey, but also to concerns expressed by a number of speakers about potential loss of the current good practice led by NHS Haringey around healthy living and community health. Comments were made about the importance now of promoting the value of NHS Haringey’s excellent work promoting health that it was felt might be in jeopardy were PCTs to be abolished as currently proposed by Government.
Question Five: Can the Hornsey Neighbourhood Health Centre be Designated an Urgent Care Centre?
Given the risk of closure hanging over the Whittington Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit, the question was asked whether the Neighbourhood Health Centre was likely to be designated an urgent care centre. In response it was clarified that this could not happen, as the centre is not appropriately equipped.
Thanks to Speakers
Cllr Weber thanked all the speakers for their contributions to the meeting, and for giving up their Saturday afternoons to attend.