Agenda item - GP Sustainability: Update

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Agenda item

GP Sustainability: Update

Minutes:

54            GP Sustainability: Update

 

54.1    This item was introduced by John Child and by Stephen Ingram (Primary Care Lead for  NHS England (South East):  Mr Ingram outlined the local primary care challenges, including: an ageing population; an ageing, and increasingly part-time workforce; problems in recruitment, particularly in interesting younger GPs to become practice partners; increasing numbers of practice closures, mergers and list closures; and issues with the physical infrastructure of primary care estates.

 

54.2    In Brighton & Hove, the exit of the Practice Group  from its GP contracts has been  effectively managed, including  the successful re-procurement of an enhanced homeless service (to be run by Arch which is headed by Dr Tim Worsley who ran the Morley Street Homeless practice previously). The Willow House patient list has been transferred to Allied Medical Practice, and the Whitehawk patient list to Ardingly Court which has moved into the vacated clinical space at the Wellsbourne Clinic.

 

With regard to the recent sudden closure of the Lewes Rd practice, the GP concerned was struggling and unable to find a successor so as to allow the contract to continue to subsist. In the circumstances, it was agreed that it was best to allow the practitioner to retire and for this small practice to close but only once it had been established that there was alternative local capacity.

 

The New Larchwood surgery has also been established (as a branch surgery of the Carden Rd practice) under its permanent GMS contract which provides greater certainty and resilience to that service.

 

The Broadway practice has now been taken out of special measures by CQC.

 

54.3    A number of practices have been supported, in principal, to develop new GP practices premises. This includes Ardingly Court. More investment is planned, with the direction of travel being towards fewer, larger practices with primary care being delivered at-scale through multi-disciplinary teams.  This should lead to improved outcomes and greater resilience.

 

54.4    Brighton & Hove CCG has submitted its plans for taking on the co-commissioning of GP services from April 2017. This will mean that the budget for GP services and decision making relating to the commissioning and contracting functions will sit with the CCG acting under delegated authority from NHS England.

 

54.5    Members asked questions on areas including:

·       Future plans for capital spending to improve the accessibility of surgeries for people with disabilities

·       Ensuring that NHS Choices information on city practices with open lists was kept up to date

·       The opportunities presented by co-commissioning (including the federation of local GP practices)

·       Making better use of pharmacies and nurse practitioners

 

54.6    RESOLVED – that the report be noted and a further update received in approximately six months’ time.

 

Supporting documents:

 


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