Agenda item

Outline of NHS Services

To complement the above item, this is a high-level presentation by the Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on the NHS services commissioned and provided in Warwickshire.

Minutes:

Dr Sarah Raistrick, Chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CWCCG) was welcomed to the meeting. She gave a presentation explaining the roles of the NHS and services delivered in Coventry and Warwickshire. The presentation covered the following areas:

 

  • Integrated Care in Coventry and Warwickshire
  • Health and care services
  • Our role as a clinical commissioner – plan, determine & prioritise, purchase and monitor
  • Coventry and Warwickshire Health System
  • What happens at place and system, a graphic on primary care networks, place and system
  • How we can work together – the ways the committee could receive information to undertake its scrutiny role
  • The next steps for health and care in Coventry and Warwickshire
  • Why become an ICS?
  • Our Vision
  • What does this mean for clinical commissioning?
  • Next steps for ICS

 

The Chair thanked Sarah Raistrick for the comprehensive presentation and noted that the ICS would feature on the committee’s future work programme. She invited questions and comments from the committee:

 

  • Concerns were raised about GP service delivery. Councillor Redford had received complaints about the lack of face to face services, telephone waiting times and the amount of personal information being required by receptionists. There had been an increase in demand for GP services, challenges in getting appointments, frustration and it was especially so for those with mental health conditions. An assurance was sought on service resumption.
  • The Chair added that a revisit of the focused task and finish group (TFG) on GP Services would be proposed under the work programme.
  • Sarah Raistrick acknowledged these points which were raised to varying degrees across the area. She explained that the information being sought by receptionists was to ensure each patient was referred to the correct part of the practice, as not all required the GP to respond.
  • In terms of the ‘return to normal’, there was a push under the NHS long term plan to offer digital and remote services using technology. This approach was preferred by some patients. Others preferred face to face appointments and the CCG was working with GPs to ensure capacity to offer this.
  • An apology was provided on the example of a patient having to call over 200 times to join a call queue, which was not acceptable. The CCG would like to work with the committee and the public on finding solutions to such issues, to make suggestions to those providing the services. GPs were working very hard, with increasing requests for appointments. A range of other clinical staff were collocated at practices to assist. Another area discussed was liaison with patients via participation groups and Healthwatch.
  • Councillor Matecki asked about contact information for NHS services and the process for escalation of queries to enable councillors to assist. Sarah Raistrick offered to work with Nigel Minns on a combined NHS/council contact list. 
  • Chris Bain of HWW also offered to be a conduit for councillor enquiries, referring to the recent briefing note he’d supplied. He was pleased to see that ICS would have statutory powers, unlike the former Sustainability and Transformation Partnership. For HWW there was concern that considerable service changes would be taking place and assurance was needed that the patient voice was heard at all levels, including the lived experiences of patients.
  • Regular causes of concern were access to GP services and dentistry. Access to NHS dentists in Rugby was referenced particularly. The key area raised with HWW was mental health issues and linked to this loneliness, anxiety and social isolation.  It was difficult to get access to services. This may delay people seeking services for their physical health too. The ICS system arrangements needed to provide more clarity for the public on their first point of contact. 
  • Sarah Raistrick agreed that lived patient experience was vital. A lot of work did take place on this and it could be given more profile. There was a rating of ‘outstanding’ for patient and public engagement for the former CCGs serving north Warwickshire, Coventry and Rugby.
  • Dentistry was currently outside local commissioning, but this was likely to be reviewed under the new arrangements. The points about access to GPs would be taken onboard.
  • Mental health was a key area where integration would be vital and impacted on all ages and many services. It became an NHS service area when more specialist support was needed. Perceived and complexity of needs, triage and help to navigate the system were further points, along with the joint concordat and aim to provide seamless transition between agencies.
  • HWW would monitor and stay in touch on the implementation of the ICS. NHSE planned to delegate dentistry to the ICS.

 

The Chair drew the item to a close and noted that the requested contact information would be circulated once compiled.

 

Resolved

 

That the Committee notes the presentation.