Issue - meetings
Chairs Update
Meeting: 07/02/2022 - Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 3)
CHAIRS UPDATE
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Noted.
Meeting: 21/09/2021 - Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board (Item 2)
Chairs Update
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Chair:
v Stated that there has been considerable discussion about NHS reorganisation and integration between the NHS and local authority services and that the decision has been taken not to have in-depth discussions about this at the Health and Wellbeing Board due to there being quite a lot of uncertainty about the way forward as there has now been quite extensive change in terms of the organisation of the former CCG and we are only now beginning to get clarity of around national guidance for the reorganisation. Therefore, the Chair suggested that the Board discusses this issue at the November meeting alongside a refresh about the Boards own membership and terms of reference.
v Indicated that she was happy to take a couple of questions on that topic now or reflections if that is felt to be helpful. However, the Chair stated that she wanted to give the Board the “Heads Up” that that really is quite a substantial piece of work to ensure that there is a there is a relentless focus on health inequalities on outcomes for people in terms of this NHS restructure and at the same time making sure that NHS and local authority bodies are integrating.
v Indicated that she increasingly had been contacted by constituents about access to GP appointments and there had been some media coverage as well about the new protocol for accessing GP appointments. It was noted that the Chair and Vice-Chair had been discussing the experience of accessing GP appointments and that Board should keep a watching brief on the establishment of the new access arrangements.
The Vice-Chair:
v Stated that he was very concerned about the media’s criticism of family doctors following government demands for them to increase face-to-face appointments. This idea to improve general practice would it was noted would do little to relieve the intense pressure on surgeries and could exacerbate the chronic shortage of family doctors by prompting more to quit the profession.
v It was important to understand that (i) the workload in primary care is overwhelming as research now shows that primary care is managing a third all the patients on the waiting list which is 20% to 30% increase when compared to previous years (ii) this is still the Summer period (iii) staff are still off with COVID or have been in close to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (iv) staff are trying to catch up on leave which they have not had for year (v) whilst some people prefer online contact as it is so much more convenient for them not having to come in to a surgery but there is always challenges and situations whenever you change the way a service is provided. Accordingly, there needs that there is a sensible debate about how we can work together on ameliorating the situation with regard to access in primary care.
The Chair:
v Reminded the Board that within (i) the Health and Wellbeing Strategy; and (ii) the Black and ... view the full minutes text for item 2