St James Surgery Application to close Branch Surgery

Transcription

1 St James Surgery Application to close Branch Surgery Page 1 of 11

2 Prepared by: Nikki Holmes, Head of Primary Care, NHS England South (South Central) Lead Director: Debra Elliott, Director of Commissioning, NHS England South (South Central) Classification: OFFICIAL The National Health Service Commissioning Board was established on 1 October 2012 as an executive non-departmental public body. Since 1 April 2013, the National Health Service Commissioning Board has used the name NHS England for operational purposes. Page 2 of 11

3 Title of Presentation Application from St James Surgery to closure a branch surgery (outlying consultation facility) premises Is this paper for : Discussion Decision X Information Purpose of Paper St James Surgery operates from a Main and a Branch Surgery Premises, with an Outlying Consultation Facility at Weston Church Hall. The practice is requesting the closure of the latter. The paper outlines the matters for consideration by the Joint Primary Care Commissioning Committee (JPCCC), along with the patient engagement activity undertaken by the practice, to inform the JPCCC decision. Actions Required BaNES JPCCC is asked to consider the request from St James Surgery to close its outlying consultation facility at Weston Church Hall. 1 Background 1.1. St James Surgery has a population of 9,800 patient, with a lower than CCG average younger population and a slightly higher than CCG average population over 65 years old The practice provides services from the following locations (detailed in Appendix 1): Main Surgery: St James Surgery, 8-9 Northampton Buildings, Bath, Avon BA1 2SR Branch Surgery: Junction Road, Oldfield Park, Bath, BA2 3NQ Outlying Consultation Facility: Weston Church Hall Surgery, Bath, BA1 4BX 1.3. This practice has a PMS contract, which was transferred from the predecessor organisation to NHS England on 1 st April The PMS contract for this practice lists the Main and Branch Surgery, but does not list the Outlying Consultation Facility. There is no documentation to confirm why only two premises locations are listed The practice currently provides a 2 hour clinic (walk-in service) at Weston Church Hall on a fortnightly basis. Page 3 of 11

4 2 Matters for Consideration 2.1 In support of its application to close the Outlying Consultation Facility, the practice has submitted a Business Case (Appendix 2). The key areas raised by the practice are: Services have been provided from Weston Church Hall for 15 years Services are limited to simple ailments, due to limits of the premises, with some patients having to be re-booked at the main surgery for examination/treatment. A 2 hour clinic is provided fortnightly Patients are seen by a GP in a room off the main hall. The facility means that it is not possible for a receptionist or practice nurse to be on site. Concern about the facility not meeting CQC standards for infection control, health and safety, DDA and Safeguarding. 2.2 The practice state that numbers accessing services at the Outlying Consultation Facility have reduced. Between 1 st December 2014 and 30 th November patients (0.6% of the practice population) used the service. Reviewing this activity, the practice confirmed that often patients had to be rebooked at the main surgery, as the condition they presented with was not appropriate for a walk-in clinic or without a chaperone present. These patients were asked to participate in a questionnaire, as detailed in Section 3 of this paper. 2.3 The main St James surgery is 1.3 miles away and there are five other practices in the area around Weston Church Hall: Newbridge 0.5 miles away St Michaels 0.9 miles away Catherine Cottage 1.4 miles away Monmouth 1.5 miles away St James (Junction Road branch) 1.7 miles away 2.4 Similarly, there are four community pharmacies located nearby: Boots (Weston) 0.2 miles Jhoots (Newbridge Hill) 0.5 miles Boots (Twerton) 1.0 miles Hawes Whiston (St James Square) 1.3 miles 2.5 St James Surgery have highlighted that some of the patients presenting at the outlying consultation facility, particularly with coughs and colds, can be supported by accessing community pharmacy services at one of these locations. 3 Engagement 3.1 In order to inform consideration of the request to close the outlying consultation facility, the practice asked the 62 patients using the service in the last year to complete a questionnaire A response was received from 23 patients (23%) and a report of the responses, collated by the practice, is provided at Appendix 3. Page 4 of 11

5 3.2 The majority of responders had accessed services at the main or branch surgery premises in the last 12 months and the majority confirmed they would access services at these locations if the Outlying Consultation Facility closed. Patients were given the opportunity to provide written comments on the proposal. Whilst a number of patients complimented the practice on the service provided, some concerns were raised about the proposed closure. The key themes from this were: Distance to the Main and Branch Surgery the practice note the majority of this cohort of patients already access services from these locations. Community transport services are available (Dial-a-Ride or Bath Community Transport) and home visits will be provided where clinically appropriate. Access to Parking at the main surgery the practice has confirmed that it is already reviewing this, following feedback from patients using the main surgery. It has taken action to reduce inappropriate use of the onsite parking. Concern about the impact on services to nursing homes the practice has confirmed that its work with local nursing homes will not be impacted by this change. Reduced appointment flexibility recognising that patients currently walk-in, the practice have confirmed that same day urgent appointments (face-to-face or telephone) are available and given reassurance that if a patients does arrive at the surgery without an appointment but is urgent, the practice will fit them in. 3.3 NHS England has also sought feedback on the proposal from the following local stakeholders: Neighbouring GP Practices Healthwatch BaNES BaNES CCG Wessex LMC BaNES Health & Wellbeing Board BaNES Public Health Ben Howlett MP Colin Barrett Councillor Francine Haeberling Health & Wellbeing Select Committee 3.4 Replies were received as follows, along with the response provided: Ben Howlett MP wishes to be informed once decision has been made. Healthwatch BaNES: Question: would there be any older patients, or people with limited mobility for whom this closure may cause a problem? Answer: the age bands of patients currently accessing this service is Age Band Number of patients +86 years 7 Page 5 of 11

6 76 85 years years 20 <61 years 6 There are 3 patients who are recorded as being housebound. The practice has confirmed that home visits will be available to these 3 patients. There are no patients who visit the Branch Surgery who are registered disabled. 3.5 No further feedback was received. 4 Decision BaNES JPCCC is asked to consider St James Surgery s request to close the Outlying Consultation Facility at Weston Church Hall and decide whether or not to support this. Page 6 of 11

7 Appendix 1 St James Surgery Main Premises Location Page 7 of 11

8 Junction Road Surgery - Branch Surgery Location Page 8 of 11

9 Weston Church Hall Outlying Consultation Facility Location Page 9 of 11

10 Appendix 2 St James Surgery Business Case for Closure of Weston Church Hall Surgery Project Initiation Document v2.doc Page 10 of 11

11 Appendix 3 Consultation Responses Appendix 1 -Closure of Walk In Clinic at W Page 11 of 11