To receive evidence from Haringey PCT in relation to preliminary findings from the consultation programme for the Primary Care Strategy.
· Gerry Taylor, Acting Director of Strategic Commissioning
· Christina Gradowski, Director of Corporate Services and Partnerships
Minutes:
Gerry Taylor, Acting Director for Strategic Commissioning and Christina Gradowski, Director of Corporate and Partnership Development gave evidence to then panel concerning the consultation process for the Primary Care Strategy. A summary of the main issues discussed with the panel are highlighted below:
Consultation Process
· The TPCT described the range of events that had been undertaken as part of the consultation process for the Primary Care Strategy. These included door drop of pamphlets, advertisements, presentations and leafleting in public areas. Consultation events are planned until mid November.
· A number of emerging concerns were identified from the consultation which included:
o Continuity of care: the ability of patients to see a GP of their choice within new super health centres;
o Convenience of care: that patients preferred the convenience of small local practices;
o Young people like the idea of large services as they may confer some anonymity, which is particularly beneficial in relation to services such as sexual health.
· It is likely that further future consultations would take place at the micro level, as and when individual GP practices decide to move in to super health centre sites. Consultations, it was noted, would be undertaken by affected GP surgeries not the TPCT. Morris House surgery was used to illustrate this process, where the surgery has undertaken a patient consultation ahead of its imminent transfer to Lordship Lane Health Centre.
· The TPCT will produce a report based on the consultation findings which will go to the Board in November. This will be a public document and will be accessible through the website. Final documentation will go to the Board in January 2008.
Transport
· The cost, distance and green issues relating to the greater distance that patients may be expected to travel within the super health centre model were noted to be emerging issues within the consultation process.
· Further transport planning was needed within the strategy for those with mobility problems given that there were noted to be existing problems with Dial-A-Ride, Taxi Credit scheme and the low take up of Freedom Passes for older people in the locality.
· HTPCT reported that they had already started to look at transport issues and options with Transport for London (TfL). Discussions have already taken place with neighbouring PCTs to present a more influential case to TfL.
Remaining level of GP practices
· The TPCT stated that the strategy would need to have a flexible approach in that it would not seek to transfer practices which offered good quality services and where there is the opportunity for physical redevelopment. Thus in the case of Somerset Gardens, this practice would not automatically be incorporated in to the super health centre model as it is a successful practice and also has options for future building development.
· The TPCT acknowledged that there is further work to be done with GPs locally to promote the rationale for change and of preferred future models of primary care provision.
Variability of services
· In respect of the ongoing variability in the nature and level of primary care services provided by GPs, the TPCT suggested that the further development of Practice based Commissioning may help reduce inequalities in general practice. As GPs will be working more closely together, it is expect that peer pressure will help reduce some of the service inequalities that patients experience.
Panel Response
· The panel fully acknowledged the time and effort that TPCT staff had contributed to the consultation process and were broadly satisfied at the number and variety of consultation events that had taken place.
· Whilst the Panel had no issues about the manner of the consultation, their view was that the lack of specific detail in the strategy meant that it was unclear what the full implications of the strategy would be. It was therefore difficult for people to make an informed response to the consultation.
· The TPCT, were as yet, unable to provide a definitive answer as to how many GP practices would remain within the super health centre model of primary care. Such a lack of detail within the Primary Care Strategy would illustrate how difficult it has been for the public and the panel to provide meaningful responses to the consultation.