Issue - items at meetings - Out Of Hours GP Provision

Report of the Director of Strategy and Governance on city Out Of Hours GP services (copy attached)

69.1    This item was introduced by Amanda Fadero, Interim Chief Executive NHS Brighton & Hove. Ms Fadero referred members to the report included in the committee papers, stressing that she believed that there was no cause for concern with the local GP Out Of Hours service, either in terms of its quality or its capacity.

69.2    In response to a question regarding the level of demand required to justify the employment of an additional Out Of Hours GP, Dr Tom Scanlon, Brighton & Hove Director of Public Health, told members that he did not have a figure to hand. However, the cost of such a move would be very considerable (circa £160,000 p.a.); and that current demand for Out Of Hours services, as an average and in terms of peak pressures, would scarcely justify such expenditure.

69.3    In reply to a query as to how NHS Brighton & Hove ensures that appropriately qualified GPs staff the Out Of Hours service, members were informed that all the GPs used must be on the PCT’s approved list. Almost all Out Of Hours GPs are locally based GPs, and the contractor must inform NHS Brighton & Hove if it intends to use any non-local GPs.

69.4    RESOLVED – That the report be noted and an update report be requested in approximately 12 months time.