Issue - items at meetings - Healthcare in Brighton & Hove

Presentations and discussion about the local health economy. To be introduced by Dr Xavier Nalletamby, Chair of the Brighton & Hove GP Commissioning Consortium and by Andrew Demetriades, Chief officer, NHS Brighton & Hove

8.1       This item was introduced by Andrew Demetriades, Area Director, NHS Brighton & Hove (NHSBH), and by Dr Xavier Nalletamby, Chair of the transitional Brighton & Hove GP Commissioning Consortia (GPCC).

8.2       Mr Demetriades outlined recent developments to the national and local NHS following progress of the Health & Social Care Bill; Dr Nalletamby sketched the process via which local GPs had agreed to form a transitional GPCC. Dr Nalletamby stressed that city GPs were very conscious of potential ethical issues which might arise if GPs were required to act as both gatekeepers and commissioners of NHS-funded healthcare services – i.e. that as GP commissioners they might be seen as wanting to restrict access to services for financial reasons, when, as GPs, they might wish to refer patients into those services for clinical reasons.

8.3       Dr Nalletamby also emphasised that GP commissioning could not be undertaken effectively without positive public involvement, and that the GPCC was committed to engaging with local residents (although matters of importance to the public would have to be balanced against lower profile but key services such as mental health).

8.4       In answer to a question from Cllr Turton on likely statutory guidance concerning the relationship between the GPCC, the local Health and Wellbeing Board and Healthwatch, Mr Demetriades told members that although he did anticipate some guidance on this issue, it was likely that a good deal would be left to local determination. Work is ongoing with partners from across the local health economy to create a local Health and Wellbeing Board which is responsive to the needs of the local authority, of the GPCC and of local people.

8.5       In response to a query from the Chair concerning the amount of autonomy the GPCC would have, Dr Nalletamby told members that he was optimistic that GP commissioning would make a significant difference locally. If GP powers were too restricted, local GPs would not engage with the GPCC.

8.6       The Chair thanked Mr Demetriades and Dr Nalletamby for their contributions.