The committee to receive an update from Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) officers on current priorities and performance as the organisation transitions to the formal launch of the Integrated Care System in July 2022.
Minutes:
The Director of Primary Care at BSW CCG, explained that Primary Care included GP appointments and other services such as dentistry and pharmacies. She then provided an update on the current performance, including the progress of the vaccination programme, explaining that data was shared at the monthly Primary Commissioning Committee.
She reported that an ‘evergreen offer’ was in place to encourage unvaccinated people to come forward for their first jab. Data was being used to identify individual streets with lower take up, allowing the vaccine bus to be deployed as effectively as possible. Community vaccine centres included local pubs and a Sikh temple. It was explained that plans were being put in place to roll out the fourth phase of the vaccine programme targeting higher risk groups, such as the over 75s. Primary Care staff would continue to play an important role in the vaccine programme but on a smaller scale than the last two years. Going forward there would be a focus on addressing the non-Covid needs of patients with plans to improve access to GPs outside of normal working hours.
During the discussion key points included:
• Members thanked the director for the update and asked if further detail about the Covid-19 vaccine uptake could be shared.
• Cllr Howard Greenman, reported significant concerns, based on his own experience, those of residents and the local parish council about the GP Practice in Sutton Benger, part of the Patford House Partnership. He then stated that it was imperative that action was taken to improve the service at Patford House Surgery, Beversbrook Medical Centre and Sutton Benger Surgery.
• The director explained that the CCG had been working closely with the partnership over the past two years and agreed that tangible action was required. She reported that the CCG had an oversight board specifically looking at Patford House Partnership and discussions were ongoing about the implementation of the action plan to improve the quality of the service provided. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) were also shortly due to visit all three sites to assess compliance with warning notices.
• The director noted that the practice’s GP contract was under review. As there were approximately 15,000 patients registered at the practice, she explained that contingency plans would need to be in place should the practice have its registration removed.
• Members noted that the potential closure of the Patford House would impact the Primary Care infrastructure across the whole county and requested a further update on the imminent inspection.
• Cllr Tom Rounds, Chairman of Calne Area Board, noted that the Area Board had received an update from the practice manager of Patford House. He stated that services had deteriorated since the merger of the three sites. He then explained that there were staff shortages at the surgeries and that the management practice needed to be looked at forensically.
• Other members raised concerns about the number of doctors and access to appointments in their area. Cllr Pip Ridout highlighted that it was not possible to access pharmacy services in Warminster on Sundays.
• The director thanked members for their comments and stated that feedback could be provided to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). She emphasised that access to services was a key part of the recovery strategy from the pandemic and reported that 220,000 patients were able to access an appointment across BSW in February 2022.
• The work of the vaccine bus in Longfield in Trowbridge was praised by members and they asked what they could do to help promote uptake. The director emphasised the importance of continuing to spread the word, particularly to groups with low uptake, and felt that councillors promoting the vaccination programme on social media could have an impact.
• In response to a question about the lower uptake of booster vaccinations than in the first two rounds, the Director of Public Health at Wiltshire Council, stated that there was an increasing perception amongst sections of the public that the threat from Covid-19 was reducing. A trend of lower uptake was also seen with other vaccines, such as MMR. She noted that a team at the CCG were carefully analysing trends and shared their findings with Wiltshire Council. She reassured members that Wiltshire had the highest vaccine uptake in the region.
Resolved
1. To thank the CCG’s Director of Primary Care for the update.
2. To request that the committee is updated on the imminent CQC inspection of Patford House and any potential implications for its 15,000 Wiltshire registered patients.
3. To request a future update on the work being undertaken to enhance access to GP services.