Issue - meetings

Neil Roberts (Head of Primary Care, NHS England) introduced the report to the Board. Neil Roberts explained the process by which requests for GP premises are dealt with. It was noted that the Primary Care Commissioning Team receives GP premises requests, once initial research has been undertaken the request is tested against NHS England’s criteria and a Project Initiation Document (PID) is drafted. The PID is assessed by an internal screening group and if the request is endorsed the PID is passed to the Finance Investment Procurement and Audit Committee for approval, upon which a full business is developed.

The Board noted that NHS England is in the process of developing a national operating model similar to the framework described in the report which is being used by the London region in the interim.

The Board asked if NHS England took account of the need to prioritise access to GP services as in Barking and Dagenham there is a high number of single-handed practice or some premises that are in poor physical condition. The Board was advised that accessibility is part of the fuller list of criteria that will be used once the national operating model is in place. Furthermore, NHS England will try to deliver the strategic aims for a local area and take account of CQC ratings of practices, therefore issues around access to GPs would be taken into consideration.

The Board asked what role the Primary Care Commissioning Team plays when leases for GP premises are coming to an end. Although responsibility for re-procuring premises rests with the contractor NHS England is able to influence the process and make suggestions.

The Board asked whether local regeneration plans are used as an evidence base from which to make decisions or ensure provision of services in a community. Neil Roberts advised the Board that when NHS England took over responsibility for commissioning GP services local regeneration plans were not handed over. The Board was very disappointed that NHS England was not briefed on local regeneration plans and that there is little clarity as to how NHS England engages with stakeholders in its current procedures. Neil Roberts encouraged local authorities to approach NHS England to make them aware of key regeneration plans in their area. Again the Board was disappointed as they would have expected NHS England to be more pro-active in their approach and to make use of information that was already in the NHS’ possession.

Conor Burke (Accountable Officer, B&D CCG) commented that the development of the CCG’s five year commissioning strategy is a good opportunity to join up the borough’s regeneration plans with the planning of local health services so that in future the commissioning of GP services, and their premises, is dovetailed with local plans and strategies.

The H&WBB agreed to:

·  Note the current approach to premises investments and consider how this approach applies locally.

·  Note the position of NHS England in developing an overarching Premises Policy.