Agenda item

To receive an update from NHS Haringey on the Laurels Health Centre.

The Committee received the action plan (page 9 of the agenda pack) arising from the Committee’s visit to the Laurels, presented by Duncan Stroud and Pauline Taylor (NHS Haringey). 

A resident expressed concern that the Council and the PCT were paying rent to Circle 33 for the Laurels which was still in a poor state.  Councillor Bevan also expressed his concern at the level at which the building was being maintained.  NHS Officers explained that the refurbishment (due to be completed in the next fortnight) and mystery shops were working towards the improvement of the Laurels.  The pressure on the Laurels was reflected in the queues of people waiting to be seen and the potential longer term use of St Ann’s site was recognised. 

In response to the suggestion that St Ann’s be utilised instead of investing more money into the Laurels Ian Wilson (Chief Executive – Whittington Hospital) highlighted that the PCT was tied into a lease with Circle 33.  Mr Wilson explained that the PCT was working with the Mental Health Trust (MHT) to devise a master-plan for the St Ann’s site including the possibility of selling a section of the site to raise funds to invest into the area and place specific services on the site.  The possibility of building more primary care facilities on the land opposite the Laurels would also be considered.  Appropriate consultation on the master-plan would take place.

The Committee would send a letter to the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Trust (MHT) recommending that a Steering Group be established, including local residents and councillors to assist with the development of the MHT master-plan. (Action No. 207.1). 

The Committee requested a briefing note on why phlebotomy (blood testing) services in the Borough could not be expanded including why there was a limit of only 40 people being tested at the Laurels in the morning and the reasons this could not be increased  (Action No. 207.2). 

It was agreed that an unannounced  visit to the Laurels would be arranged for Members of the Committee in order to monitor progress (Action No. 207.3).

In response to questioning NHS Officers informed the Committee that:

• The Bridge Renewal Trust’s initial application for a licence to open a pharmacy at the Laurels was originally turned down. 
• A subsequent application for a pharmacy at the Laurels to be open for 100 hours met the exemption criteria and was accepted on the understanding that the Bridge Renewal Trust would provide any of 5 additional services if required.  There were currently no gaps in the provision of these services and therefore the PCT would not be requiring the pharmacy to provide additional services.
• In response to the Committee’s concerns that the pharmacy could potentially include supervised methadone administration, it was noted that the PCT would not be requiring the pharmacy to provide supervised consumption of methadone or needle exchange services.
• The PCT did not take decisions based on the financial viability of a business when assessing an application but did assess that up to 13 pharmacies in the area would be affected but would not be taken below the threshold of prescriptions that would make a pharmacy  an unviable business.  
• In response to Committee Members’ and Councillor Brabazon’s concerns that the proposal would have a negative social impact on the area and on other local businesses, Ms Taylor stated that she was not aware of any evidence that the opening of a pharmacy in an area was associated with an increase in crime or antisocial behaviour.

Clerks note: 18:25 hrs Councillor Ejiofor joined the meeting.

Committee Members were disappointed that Bridge Renewal Trust representatives were not at the meeting.  The Committee would send a letter to the Chief Executive of the Bridge Renewal Trust requesting information on how the service spends the public money allocated to it, what community projects it was currently supporting, how establishing a pharmacy fits in with its business objectives and how it expects to make a profit (Action No. 207.4).

RESOLVED to note the briefing.