Agenda item

Skerne Medical Group

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships which provided an update in relation to the proposals for consultation/engagement by Skerne Medical Practice in respect of the development of options for future service provision across the practice locality (for copy see file of minutes).

 

The Committee received a presentation from Dr Hearmon, Partner of Skerne Medical Group, which detailed the reasons behind reducing services to three sites and put forward five options for public consultation.

 

Councillor Grant confirmed that the closure of the Trimdon Village practice had left vulnerable patients unable to travel.  She referred to the merging of East Durham Medical Group, a group which contained six sites with a full complement of GP’s and asked how this had materialised with such difficultly recruiting salaried GP’s.  She asked whether decisions were taken in light of financial pressuresor patient needs.  She referred to the consultation which included unrealistic scenarios and asked for comments on whether they were possible due to the financial implications.

 

With regards to finance, the Director of Primary Care, North Durham CCG, confirmed that all options were realistic.  Although funding would need to be sought in order for building work to take place, it was possible to find developers willing to invest.  This was a private business and the biggest issue was the reducing number of Partners as it created issues in terms of the longevity of a new lease and the ability of a reducing number of partners to commit to long term financial demands.  A normal lease was for a minimum of 5 years.

 

In response to Councillor Grant’s concerns about private business decisions, the Director of Primary Care, North Durham CCG, confirmed that a GP partnership review conducted by the government had concluded that compared to the salaried model, the partnership model was the only model that could take GPs to the next level.  The review was critical of the culture of non-private practice and it found that partners went over and above for patients.

 

Councillor Temple suggested that if any of the scenarios were financially unviable, they should be removed before being released for public consultation.  It was important to only include those that were deliverable.

 

Dr Hearmon recognised that some were more realistic than others, however they were asked to consider a number of options from the Primary Care Committee.  All options were realistic as although some did not yet have the financial investment required, investors could still come forward.

 

Mrs Hassoon had concerns that the cheapest option, due to leases held, was not necessarily the best.

 

Councillor Bell confirmed that he would not support a single site, due to the geographical area covered and suggested that people were likely to base their consultation response on prioritising a surgery in, or closest to the area they lived.  It was crucial that the practice increased the number of partner GPs but he agreed that before the consultation was opened to the public, the options should be reduced to include only those that were financially achievable.

 

Councillor Hovvels, Portfolio Holder for Adult and Health Services and Local Member, confirmed that it was essential to deliver the best option and repair the damage that had been done in the community.  They were quite rightly discontent at the loss of local services.  She considered it would be beneficial to have more financial information in order to fully consider the scenarios.  Members had heard about the issues of having split sites over a large geographical area but also about access issues for patients with reduced sites, but the outcome had to be based on retaining the best level of service.

 

Dr Hearmon confirmed that the purpose of the review was to ensure long term, sustainable medical care and clarified that it would take some time before new GP’s became Partners.  As had been alluded to earlier, the government were still of the opinion that the partnership model was the preferred continuing way for GP services to be provided.

 

Councillor Bell was grateful for the information provided and was delighted that four GP’s had been recruited.  He also showed appreciation to Skerne Medical Group for actively seeking comments from the Committee and the Chair thanked them for the presentation.

 

Resolved:

 

That the report and presentation be received, and Committee’s comments on proposals for consultation/engagement in respect of the development of options for future service provision across the practice locality be communicated in writing to the Skerne Group and DDES CCG.  

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