Issue - meetings

Report and presentation attached.

Officers explained that the review of the Primary Medical Services (PMS) contracts held by some GP practices had now resumed with only a local rather than London-wide offer to be negotiated. The review aimed to ensure that all patients could expect to receive the same level of care from their GP.

Of 44 GP practices in Havering, 12 operated under a PMS contract. This allowed a total additional investment of around £1 million although this was the third lowest premium in London. The overall contract value would increase by £7.3 million over the next five years due to a combination of population growth and other cost pressures.

The CCG was looking at the transition costs of a new contract with a lower premium. Overall primary care investment was also being looked at as were economy wide solutions where possible. The new contracts were required to be agreed by the start of October 2017.

Any Havering practices that had been rated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as ‘requires improvement’ would be offered additional support. The CCG had also now developed policy and procedure templates for GP practices. Mandatory on line training was also supplied for practice staff in areas such as complaints, health and safety and infection control.

Whilst all Havering GP practices had now been inspected by the CQC, not all the inspection reports had been published as yet. Practices would be supported to develop an action plan based on the relevant CQC findings. It was confirmed that a CQC inspection did assess the quality of the relationship between a GP and patients by speaking to patient representatives.

There were three GP networks now established covering the north, central and southern parts of the borough and network leads had now been recruited.

The Sub-Committee NOTED the position.