Agenda item

Since the start of 2015 the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel has received several updates about Primary Care in Haringey.

With NHS England responsible for commissioning primary care (recognising there are now co-commissioning arrangements in place), and having heard from Haringey CCG in January 2015 and June 2015, the Panel will receive a presentation from NHS England.

The issues for discussion will include (a) the plans being developed out of Haringey’s Strategic Premises Plan, (b) plans for Tottenham Hale, and (c) an update on the Primary Care Infrastructure Fund.

The Chair welcomed Mike de Coverly, NHS England, and Fiona Erne, NHS England, to the meeting.

Mr de Coverly commenced his presentation by explaining that the Haringey Premises Strategy had been presented to the NHS England Finance, Investment, Procurement and Audit (FIPA) subgroup, in August 2015. It was noted that final endorsement of the Premises Strategy Plan, on behalf of NHS England, had been provided by FIPA in September 2015. 

The panel was informed that NHS England, Haringey CCG and Haringey Council Planners were working on a Delivery Plan to address the challenges outlined in the Strategy Plan. It was hoped that this would be completed by 31 December 2015. Mr de Coverly noted that the Delivery Plan had identified a number of potential sites for surgery site development that would meet the needs of underlying deficit in service and potential population growth.

During the discussion, reference was made to the RAG risk rating methodology for GP Practices incorporating Practice Viability, Access Performance and Premises Risk. It was noted that these ratings would help inform decisions about new sites and the actions required to drive improvements to patient access.

Mr de Coverly explained, by approving the Haringey Strategic Premises Development Plan, that NHS England had approved the strategic case for a new practice in the Tottenham Hale area. The panel was informed that the NHS England Decision Making Group had approved the selection of Lawrence House Practice in Tottenham to enter into competitive dialogue to establish the proposed new pilot in Tottenham Hale. The following points were noted in relation to the Tottenham Hale Surgery Development Project:

-       The fact that NHS England and Haringey CCG had established, and agreed, premises funding responsibilities.

-       A Project Manger had been appointed to facilitate the mobilization of the service and a business case writer had been appointed to prepare the final business case for the premises.

-       A portacabin facility had been sourced that met the requirements of the proposed new service.

-       NHS England and Haringey CCG were working on an IT solution that would allow connectivity to the new temporary facility.

-       The planned service commencement date was January 2016 and it was noted that the Lawrence House Practice had confirmed that they had sourced GP and nursing staff for this date.

-       The need to secure a permanent site for the Tottenham Hale practice. It was noted that this was likely to occur within the next 3-5 years and that two possible locations had already been identified for the permanent site. 

Ms Erne provided an update on the Primary Care Transformation (formerly Infrastructure) Fund. The following points were noted:

-       The fund was an investment programme to help general practice make improvements, including in premises and technology.

-       In January 2015 GPs had been invited to submit bids for investment in 2015/16, by using the Primary Care Infrastructure Fund (PCIF),

-       Nationally, 721 GP practices PCIF applications had been approved in principle by Spring 2015.

-       In Haringey, six GP practices had been approved under PCIF. However, it was noted that three had subsequently withdrawn. The panel was also informed that eight Haringey practices had applied for Improvement Grants.

-       In October 2015 NHS England outlined their approach to funding for 2016-2019. It was explained that the Primary Care Transformation Fund would allow CCGs to bid for money in order to progress premises plans. It was explained that this money would cover capital costs while CCGs would need to consider how they would fund any uplift in revenue costs associated with rent and rates reimbursements.    

During discussion, the panel considered the impact of population growth and GP retirement and recognised that while there was significant current need in Tottenham Hale there would be additional future need in this area as well as in Northumberland Park, Noel Park and Green Lanes.

AGREED:

That the updates from NHS England, concerning Haringey’s Premises Strategy Plan, the Tottenham Hale Surgery Development Project, and the Primary Care Transformation (formerly Infrastructure) Fund, be noted.