Agenda item

Progress report for the previously completed Access to GPs and Primary Medical Care review.

Consideration was given to the assessments of progress on the implementation of the recommendations from the Committee’s previously completed review of Access to GPs and Primary Medical Care.  This was the first progress update following the Committee’s agreement of the Action Plan in July 2024, and a supplementary data pack detailing existing general practice across the Borough (opening hours, latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating, staffing levels, appointment data, GP patient survey results, and Friends and Family Test outcomes) was also provided for information.

Presented by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) Strategic Head of Primary Care (Tees Valley), and supported by the NENC ICB Head of Primary Care (Tees Valley) and the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Director of Public Health, the Committee was informed that all approved actions for recommendations 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were deemed ‘fully achieved’.  For recommendations 1, 2, 3, 6 and 11, only some agreed actions were ‘fully achieved’, with other elements yet to be completed (though ‘on-track’).  Key developments were summarised as follows:

·       The NENC ICB had undertaken a significant communications drive around primary care, with vaccinations being the present focus.

·       There had been good progress made around the Modern General Practice Access (MGPA) initiative.

·       Roles employed or engaged via the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) continued to expand during 2024-2025 and into 2025-2026, with a significant increase (58%) in whole-time equivalent (WTE) ARRS roles in Stockton-on-Tees since March 2023.

·       Increases in both booked and used enhanced access appointments.

·       All the Borough’s Primary Care Networks (PCNs) were on board with the recently announced neighbourhood health model.

·       Feedback processes had changed as a result of the new GP contract going live on 1 October 2025 (You and Your General Practice Charter) – this would provide more opportunities for patients to provide feedback to their practice, the ICB, or Healthwatch regarding their experience.

·       Those actions concerning planning considerations required further work – this was being pursued with the Council’s planning officers.

Thanking officers for their submission of a very comprehensive update, the Committee asked if the minutes of Local Clinical Interface Group (LCIG) were accessible – in response, it was explained that the LCIG was more of a partnership of clinicians for discussing clinical pathways rather than a formal, public-facing entity.

With reference to the ‘Top Tips for Accessing your GP Practice’ resource originally developed by Healthwatch South Tees, Members noted that this was becoming dated and did not reflect the value of social prescribing.  NENC ICB officers highlighted a national toolkit around this approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet needs, and confirmed that social prescribers were embedded within local practices.

Regarding previously stated difficulties in placing resources within libraries, the Committee suggested utilising Stockton News to relay important messaging / developments around this scrutiny topic.  SBC officers agreed to follow this up with internal colleagues.

AGREED that the Access to GPs and Primary Medical Care progress update be noted and the assessments for progress be confirmed as stated.