Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided the Board with an update into the Inquiry into the provision for a GP Led Health Centre in Leeds.  A paper was also submitted by NHS Leeds announcing the procurement of the GP-Led Health Centre.

The Chair welcomed Christine Outram, Chief Executive, NHS Leeds and Dr Damian Riley, Director of Primary Care, NHS Leeds to the meeting.

It was reported that NHS Leeds had a priority towards reducing inequalities and improving access to high quality primary care services.  Additional GP and Dental services had been procured in Leeds in recent years.  The report of Lord Darzy had required all Primary Care Trusts to establish GP Led centres that opened at least 12 hours a day, 7 days per week and following a review of services across Leeds, it was felt that the Lincoln Green/Burmantofts area would be best suited to host such a centre.  The centre would have GP provision as well as a walk in facility.

In response to Members questions and comments, the following issues were discussed:

• It was anticipated that the centre would alleviate pressure on accident and emergency services in Leeds.
• Sunday openings would provide increased opportunities to access health care.
• Concern over the condition and location of the health centre building – unsuitable wheelchair access, low ceilings, narrow corridors, poor parking provision and access via public transport.
• In response to questions regarding the number of GPs employed at the centre, it was reported that there would always be a GP present, with overall clinical responsibility as part of the provider’s contractual obligations.  It was not guaranteed that a patient would get to see a GP in the first instance.
• The boundary for the practice at the centre would be citywide; this would enable any resident within the City of Leeds to register there.
• Other health care and nurse practitioners would also be available at the site.
• There were no plans to cut provision at any of the city’s other walk in centres.  Analysis had shown that there would not be a threat to the future of other GP practices.
• GPs at the centre would be employed by the provider of the contract.
• Contract monitoring arrangements – it was reported that some aspects of this were still commercially sensitive and would be made available to the Board in due course.  It was also offered to issue the Board with other information including details of the capital and revenue budgets associated with establishing the centre.
• Patient involvement in the consultation and procurement process.
• Viability of the centre.  This had been forecast using business planning and workforce models. 
• All IT systems were in place for the Centre to be operational.
• Details of the successful bidder to provide the Centre could not yet be released, but would be made available to the Board when possible.
• Enforcement – any enforcement issues would fall within the PCTs Performance Management Framework.  The PCT had previously carried out successful enforcement procedures where necessary.
• The Centre would be in operation from 1 March 2009.

In summary to the discussion, it was reported that NHS Leeds were confident that the GP Led Health Centre would provide a considerable improvement to services in and around the Burmantofts area as well as providing health care options for people across the City.  It was suggested that the Working Group make another visit to the centre.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.