Agenda item

To consider the update from NHS Haringey on matters requested by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee received the briefing updating on Camidoc/Out of Hours Service, 8pm-8am Service at Hornsey Health Centre, Buses to Hornsey, NE Tottenham Health Centre, The Laurels, NHS Haringey finance and the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey (BEH) clinical strategy review.  A discussion took place and the following was noted in response to Committee Members questions and concerns.

Out of Hours

The Committee emphasised the need to ensure that the failings of Camidoc were not repeated.  The terms of reference from the governance review of Camidoc would be circulated to Committee Members (action 91.5).

NHS Haringey personnel were waiting for further guidance in response to the Health White Paper and how services such as Out of Hours would be monitored once the Primary Care Trust (PCT) ceased to exist.

8 till 8 Service at Hornsey

It was noted that the Hornsey Health Centre was also accessed by Islington residents although NHS Haringey did not receive funding for this.  The Committee requested a briefing note showing evidence of the financial savings made as a result of the termination of the 8 till 8 pilot scheme at Hornsey Health Centre (action 91.6).

The Committee expressed concern that the Urgent Care Strategy had been implemented to provide walk-in centres for people who were unable to access GP services and now the emphasis was on extending GPs opening hours. The 8 till 8 service had ceased but patients still had to wait weeks for access to a GP.

NHS Haringey officers reported that funds were being invested in extending GP surgeries’ opening hours and access was being monitored carefully and contract arrangements amended and monitored to meet the needs of patients.  Legal notices were served to GPs who failed to meet their contractual obligations.

The Assistant Director of Primary Care - NHS Haringey would provide the Chair with detailed information regarding Castle View GP surgery potentially moving into the Lordship Lane Health Centre (action 91.7).

The Chair agreed to write to the Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and Economy requesting that Planning Officers meet with the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club representatives and the CE of NHS Haringey to discuss the possibility of including a health centre on the site for the new stadium which had recently been granted planning permission (action 91.8).

The Committee asked for background evidence showing where the prospect of a Health Centre at Tottenham Hale had been made public (action 91.9).

A meeting at the Laurels would be organised in order to tour the health centre and consider the future development of the centre, including the re-procurement of primary care services.  The active patient group would be invited to be involved in the review.  The Chief Executive of the Bridge Renewal Group was to also be invited(action 91.10).

The Committee noted that the unfinished building works at the Laurels would re-commence in the next week and the work would be completed by Christmas.

Committee members emphasised the need to consult on the Urgent Care Strategy on a borough by borough basis.

Financial Update

The Chief Executive – NHS Haringey would write to the Chair by the end of November when there was clarity on the NHS financial arrangements; further details on restructuring and relevant consultations and the white paper implementation (action 91.11).

Healthcare Support for Adults living in care homes

NHS Haringey would be reviewing the allocation of GPs to nursing homes in order to ensure high quality provision across all nursing homes and to avoid the use of 999 emergency services.  It was agreed that NHS Haringey would involve Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members in the review.

Health Visitors

NHS Partners would ensure that the appropriate NHS representatives attended the Child Protection Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 1^st November and that the appropriate statistics for health visiting services were available (action 92.13).

RESOLVED that the NHS Haringey update be noted.

The meeting ended at 21:30 hrs.