Agenda item

To receive a presentation on the BOB Primary Care Strategy.

Sanjay Desai, Head of Primary Care Operations, BOB ICB and Helen Clark, Deputy Place Director, BOB ICB presented the BOB ICS Transforming Primary Care Executive Summary.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·       The Integrated Care Board (ICB) covered a population of around 2 million people. 

·       Primary Care related to GP practices, pharmacy, optometry and dental services.

·       Sanjay Desai outlined the approach to developing the Strategy.  Focus groups had been carried out with key stakeholders to better understand their views.  A system wide workshop had been held in November 2023.

·       A draft strategy had been produced and the engagement phase was currently in progress, ending late February.  The ICB was consulting with as many people and groups as it possibly could.

·       The Committee noted some of the areas where it had been identified that the system had particular strengths that could be built upon.  Members were informed of the Pharmacy First service.

·       Sanjay Desai highlighted some of the challenges including worsening experience of accessing primary care, workload pressure, mismatch between capacity and demand, and capacity being difficult to grow due to funding, recruitment and retention issues.

·       It was important that the patient received the right support to meet their needs the first time they made contact.  Enablers for this included workforce, digital and data, estates, and resourcing.

·       Supporting patients to self-manage their conditions where possible was important.  There was a desire for GP colleagues to work more at the top of their licence, seeing more complex cases, whilst less complex needs were met via self-management and other routes such as pharmacy services.  The Committee was reminded of the Care Navigators based in GP practices.

·       Personalised, proactive care would be provided for people with complex needs, supported by Integrated Neighbourhood Teams.

·       The prevention agenda was integral, helping to reduce pressure on the overall system.

·       Sanjay Desai outlined activities relating to the four enablers workforce, resources, digital and data and estates, which would be essential to delivering the vision, for example maximising the uptake of apprenticeship roles and developing the workforce through the apprenticeship levy.

·       A phased approach would be taken, working with cohorts, across three priorities – non complex same day care, Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and Cardiovascular Disease prevention.

·       A Member asked how feedback on the Strategy would be achieved and if an engagement strategy would be produced.  Sanjay Desai responded that the ICB was engaging with Healthwatch and as many different groups as possible.  Members were asked to let the ICB know of any groups that they felt should be contacted.  A Member commented that the majority of residents were not members of focus groups, and that further creativity around communication was required.  Helen Clark emphasised that lots of activity was already in progress and that it would be an iterative process, building on existing work.

·       A Member commented that the Council was seeking to become a Marmot environment and suggested that this be referenced within the Strategy.

·       In response to a Member question regarding the capacity of pharmacy services, Sanjay Desai commented that in order for a new pharmacy to open a need had to be identified in the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.  The current Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment had been produced prior to the closure of a number of pharmacies in the Borough.  There may be a need to re-review the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment to assess if there were gaps in provision.

·       A Member commented that it was important that the Strategy was actioned once agreed.  Helen Clark emphasised that the ICB wanted the Strategy to be a real document to help make progress and improvements.  The Strategy would be ratified in May and an implementation plan would then be developed, and reviewed on a regular basis.

·       Alice Kunjappy-Clifton commented that people did not always know about Care Navigators or questioned their credibility.  Sanjay Desai commented that communication with patients was key, and that the ICB was keen to work with the local authority communications teams to get important information out to the community.  When partners worked together a better outcome was achieved.

·       Members expressed concern regarding the increasing number of dental practices that were handing back their NHS contracts.

·       The Committee was pleased to note the inclusion of optometry in the Strategy.

·       Alice Kunjappy-Clifton asked whether the document had been reviewed to ensure that its language was accessible, and whether it would be available in different languages.

·       A Member commented that there was a need for further GP services within the Borough.  The Borough’s population had increased considerably and would continue to do so with further housing development.

RESOLVED:  That the BOB ICS Transforming Primary Care Executive Summary be noted, and Sanjay Desai and Helen Clark be thanked for their presentation.