Agenda item

Repors from Healthwatch Havering attached for consideration by the Sub-Committee.

A director of Healthwatch Havering explained that the organisation had increased the number of visits to GP practices over the last year. This had been prompted by problems encountered by the Rosewood Practice. It was noted that, following a successful merger, the situation at Rosewood had improved. This practice would be revisited by Healthwatch shortly.

Over the last year, a total of 13 Practices had been visited by Healthwatch, some as part of a review of the GP hub system. Healthwatch had found that the availability of out of hours GP services was not widely known.

Many GP premises were converted houses which could be problematic and other surgeries shared the same premises but failed to work together. A particular issue noted by Healthwatch was the situation at the Harold Hill Health Centre where 4 GP Practices each operated from the site with a separate reception desk and no evidence of any working together etc. Healthwatch felt therefore that the CCG should do more to encourage practices to work together. A site such as the Harold Hill Health Centre should have been a super-practice rather than housing 4 separate practices.

Healthwatch wished to see fewer physical barriers between GP receptionists and patients. A training package for GP receptionists had been developed by Healthwatch but this had not seen a good take up. It was acknowledged that GP receptions were also often short staffed.

A GP in the Rainham area had recently been placed into special measures and it was confirmed that the CQC did have the power to close practices where necessary – something that had already happened in Barking & Dagenham and Newham. Around 40% of Havering GPs whose inspection reports had been published had been rated as requires improvement or inadequate which was the highest proportion in London. This was felt to also be a regional problem as similar outcomes were being seen in neighbouring boroughs.

It was unclear how many GPs with lower ratings were single-handed although it was agreed that single-handed GPs often received better patient feedback via the Quality Outcomes Framework. Healthwatch had also noted a lack of GP partners due to the added responsibility of running a practice business. There was now a move towards larger companies operating GP practices.

Healthwatch had visited Maylands Surgery in October 2016 in response to the flash flooding at that site and the long period of time it had taken to make repairs. Healrthwatch had therefore recommended that the CCG and the practice should look at resilience plans and that the CCG should also ask all its practices to review their resilience plans. It was emphasised that Healthwatch felt that Maylands had done a good job in difficult circumstances.

Healthwatch had also recently inspected the Mungo Park surgery based at South Hornchurch clinic. It had been found that patients were unable to use the surgery car park as this was taken up by local parents and business parking. The building owners had confirmed they were now looking at introducing parking enforcement for the car park – an improvement that had been suggested by Healthwatch.