Agenda item

The Select Committee will receive an update from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on current issues.

Dr Ian Orpen addressed the Select Committee. A copy of the update can be found on their Minute Book and as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary of the update is set out below.

CCG Ratings for Cancer and Maternity Services

New ratings on cancer and maternity services were published in August 2018 highlighting where CCGs are performing well and identifying where improvements are required. We have been rated as 'outstanding' for both cancer and maternity services. The assessments are conducted using the same indicators used within the CCG Improvement and Assessment Framework (IAF) but are separately conducted by independent panels.

GP Patient Survey

GP Practices in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) have again been rated as amongst the very best in the country, according to our patients. The results of the latest GP Patient Survey found that, of the 2,828 residents questioned, 91 per cent rated the overall experience at their GP surgery as ‘good’ – the fourth highest in the country and just two percentage points away from the top spot. The results are also higher than the national average of 84 per cent.

Primary Care Strategy

This month we published our Primary Care Strategy that outlines how we intend to support GP practices in B&NES over the two-year period. It focuses on five main areas and what we are doing to address them:

Access to care / Models of care / Workforce sustainability / Workload / Estates and infrastructure

You can read the full strategy and one page summary here.  

Closure of Number 18 Surgery

On 28 September Number 18 Surgery will merge with the Heart of Bath Medical Partnership and the current Number 18 Surgery site will close.

All patients currently registered with Number 18 Surgery will transfer to the Heart of Bath Medical Partnership, unless they give instructions otherwise. The transfer is being carefully planned to make the process as smooth as possible for everyone.

The majority of staff from Number 18 Surgery, with the exception of Drs Charlie Berrisford and Linda McHugh, will be moving across to join the Heart of Bath Medical Partnership. Therefore, patients will continue to see many of the same staff once the merger has taken place.

The decision to close Number 18 Surgery arose because of an increase in patient activity but a decline in patient list size, meaning the business is unfortunately no longer financially viable.

However, there are many opportunities to be gained from the merger with the Heart of Bath Medical Partnership. Not only does it mean that patients will have the choice of three sites across Bath, with two of these close to the current Number 18 Surgery premises, but they will also have access to a wider range of services and benefit from more practice team skills.

Flu campaign

People in B&NES aged over 65 years will receive a new type of flu jab this year, which is considered to be more effective than other available vaccines.

The new vaccine is one of three flu jabs that are available for the different groups of individuals who are eligible for a free vaccination, to make sure as many people as possible get the right jab to protect them against flu this winter.

Children aged from two years and up to school year five, pregnant women, anyone who is the main carer for another person or who is in receipt of carer’s allowance and those with long-term health conditions such as diabetes and asthma are also eligible for a free flu jab.

The newly available vaccine for the over 65s is expected to significantly boost effectiveness by improving the body’s immune response. This is important because older adults’ bodies typically do not respond as well to the flu vaccine due to their naturally weaker immune systems. Older adults are also more likely to suffer complications from flu.

This year’s NHS flu programme will also offer vaccinations to a larger group of children and all individuals aged under 65 years who fall into eligible groups will receive a vaccine that protects against four strains of flu.

The flu vaccine will be available from early October. Eligible adults are encouraged to get their free vaccine from their GP or a pharmacy before the end of November to protect themselves and their families before flu reaches its seasonal peak.

If you are eligible or want to check whether you or someone close to you is, contact your GP, midwife or usual healthcare provider. Visit www.nhs.uk/staywell for more information.

Our AGM

We held our AGM on Thursday 20 September at Somerdale Pavilion in Keynsham.  This year we were delighted that Cllr Keith Cunliffe, Deputy Leader of Wigan Council was able to join us.  Keith talked about an approach adopted by Wigan Council and its health partners that has changed their relationship with residents to one where public services work together with communities to create a better borough. Launched in 2014, the Wigan Deal emphasises people’s responsibility to use services appropriately and keep healthy as well as law and policy-makers working more closely with communities.   After Keith’s presentation a panel of leaders from the Council, DHI RUH and Virgin Care discussed the Wigan Deal and relevant themes for B&NES.

Councillor Lin Patterson asked if the financial viability identified with regard to Number 18 Surgery would have any impact on the Heart of Bath Medical Partnership.

Dr Orpen replied that this concern was acknowledged and stated that work at the Partnership will be carried out in a different style. He added that patient contact was a focus at Number 18 Surgery and that unfortunately this is not sustainable these days.

The Chair thanked Dr Orpen for the update on behalf of the Select Committee.