Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 21 November 2023.

Consideration was given to the minutes from the Committee meeting held on 21 November 2023.

The Committee Chair referred to the current situation regarding the Care Quality Commission (CQC) State of Care Annual Report 2022-2023 item.  An attempt was being made to discuss future contributions to the Committee’s work programme with local CQC representatives and further updates on any developments would be provided when available.

AGREED that the minutes of the meeting on 21 November 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider a submission on this scrutiny topic from Hartlepool & Stockton Health.

The third evidence-gathering session for the Committee’s review of Access to GPs and Primary Medical Care involved a submission from Hartlepool & Stockton Health (H&SH) GP Federation.  Introduced by the H&SH Chief Executive Officer, and supported by the H&SH Head of Operations and Service Delivery, a presentation was given which covered the following:

•         Who we are – structure and purpose

•         Our services

•         7Day Enhanced Access – locations

•         7Day Enhanced Access – typical month

•         Our services – workforce

•         Our services – supporting access

Formed in 2016, H&SH was a traditional GP Federation set-up based upon the former Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) footprint.  Some of its services were Stockton-on-Tees-specific, whilst others served the Tees Valley as a whole.  Elected (bi-annually) by peers, three of its (minimum of) six Board Directors need to be GPs, and one must be a general practice manager.  H&SH received no statutory funding, nor financial support from practices (all of which were members) – any funds it created were invested back into services / practices.

Holding itself to account to ensure it adds value rather than acts as a burden to the overarching health system, the vision of H&SH was to improve the health and wellbeing of local people.  Key missions included the championing of general practice and supporting Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to continue their development – engagement as a trusted partner (via local NHS Trusts and Health and Wellbeing Boards) was also an important duty.  In terms of its goals, H&SH was limited in its ability to pay high remuneration rates to its staff – the organisation therefore focused on staff wellbeing and creating a positive culture in which to work, thus aiding recruitment and retention.

Several services were provided as part of the overall H&SH offer, a key element of which was the 7Day Enhanced Access to general practice (contributing 217.5 hours-per-week and more than 32,000 appointments per annum across Stockton-on-Tees) – indeed, this was a crucial driver behind the original formation of H&SH as practices did not want private companies providing out-of-hours access.  Commissioned by PCNs (previously this was done through the CCG) who all engaged with H&SH, 7Day Enhanced Access had been operating since 2017 – within the Borough, the ‘core’ locations were Tennant Street Medical Practice and Woodbridge Medical Practice, with further weekend / evening access available at Abbey Health Centre, Eaglescliffe Medical Practice, and Norton Medical Centre.

Data showing the number of appointments for various health reasons / types across a typical month for the 7Day Enhanced Access offer was listed, as well as corresponding ‘did not attend’ (DNA) cases for each element.  Access to see a GP was comfortably the highest (1,081, with 100 DNAs), followed by appointments for a treatment room (628) and a complex treatment room (459).  The recent addition of a menopause clinic was highlighted (this was in response to PCNs being unable to cope with the level of  ...  view the full minutes text for item ASCH/38/23

Consideration was due to be given to the SBC Director of Public Health Annual Report 2022.  However, as the relevant officer was unable to be in attendance due to unforeseen circumstances, it was agreed that this item would need to be deferred to the next Committee meeting in January 2024.

AGREED that consideration of the SBC Director of Public Health Annual Report 2022 be deferred to the next Committee meeting in January 2024.

Consideration was due to be given to a Winter Planning Update report detailing winter planning across SBC in conjunction with partners.  However, due to staff sickness / unavailability, and because the contents of the report reflected work taking place (and impacting) across the whole Council, it was suggested, and subsequently agreed, that this item should be referred to the Executive Scrutiny Committee for consideration at its next meeting in January 2024.

AGREED that the Winter Planning Update report be referred to the SBC Executive Scrutiny Committee for consideration at its next meeting in January 2024.

Chair’s Update

The Chair had no further updates.

Work Programme 2023-2024

Consideration was given to the Committee’s current work programme.  The next meeting was due to take place on 23 January 2024, with anticipated items including the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board (TSAB) Annual Report 2022-2023, analysis of safeguarding concerns (including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) activity), and further evidence-gathering in relation to the ongoing Access to GPs and Primary Medical Care review.  The deferred SBC Director of Public Health Annual Report 2022 would also be added to the agenda.

A brief verbal summary of the business considered at last week’s (15 December 2023) Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee meeting was provided which would be incorporated within the latest regional health scrutiny update paper that would be included on the agenda for the January 2024 meeting.

AGREED that the Chair’s Update and Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee Work Programme 2023-2024 be noted.