Agenda item

The Chairman introduced the report, which provided the Committee with an update from NHS Property Services and NHS England in relation to the East Barnet Health Centre.

The Committee noted that on 23 March 2015 the Governance Service had received a telephone call from NHS Property Services expressing concern about the consideration of this issue during the Purdah period.  The Committee noted that the Governance Service sought legal advice on the matter and advised that they considered that there would be no legal issue concerning their attendance on the evening. 

Upon delivering this news to NHS Property Services, the Committee were advised that the Governance Service had also requested an outline of the rationale behind the proposed non-attendance and that the Governance Service did not hear back until 27 March 2015, when a joint letter from NHS Property Service and NHS England was submitted to the Chairman and the Governance Service. 

The Committee expressed their disappointment that NHS Property Service and NHS England had decided not to attend and noted that they would be invited back to Committee in July 2015 to provide a further update. 

The Chairman read a statement from Katherine Herzmark, the Practice Manager at the East Barnet Health Centre, who had sent her apologies in advance of the meeting.  The statement was as follows:

“The three practices normally based at East Barnet Health Centre have been temporarily relocated at Vale Drive Primary Care Centre since the end of June 2014. As you will be aware, works to remove asbestos containing materials overran and the intended move back date for the practices of September 2014 was delayed. The asbestos removal works caused significant cosmetic damage to the building and meant it was not feasible for the practices to return to the Health Centre in its current state.

NHS Property Services is undertaking a full refurbishment of the health centre, following consultation with the practices, the Patient Participation Group and active members of a Facebook based campaign. I understand that works have now started on site and we are in discussion with the project manager about design specifics. We have been informed that the refurbishment is scheduled for 120 working days and expect to move back to East Barnet in the Autumn of this year. We are aware that the refurbishment and reinstatement of the practices to East Barnet may involve discussions regarding contractual issues and new leases for which we are currently in the process of seeking further legal advice.

We are aware of problems that have been experienced with the telephone system while the practices have been at Vale Drive and apologise to anyone who has experienced difficulty getting through to the surgery. I am pleased to announce that the practices’ own phone system from East Barnet has now been successfully relocated to Vale Drive. This went ‘live’ on Friday 27^th March and we have noticed improvements as a result of this.

Our automatic check in screen has also been installed at Vale Drive so patients can book themselves in at the machine rather than waiting at the front desk. We have had positive feedback from patients regarding this.

NHS Property Services have also suggested providing a ‘shuttle bus’ to run between East Barnet Health Centre and Vale Drive. This is hoped to help patients who find it difficult to reach us at Vale Drive via self or public transport. We are still in discussions with NHS Property Services regarding this option but hope to have information available soon.

All three practices are fully committed to returning to East Barnet Health Centre and hope to welcome our staff, patients and visitors back to an improved health centre.”

The Chairman advised that she had been provided with a statement from The Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers, who had served as the Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet which she read at the meeting.  The statement contained the following points:

·         That she had attended a meeting with NHS England and NHS Property Services on 9 February 2015.

·         That she had emphasised to NHS Property Services, as did the residents, that the current situation was unacceptable and that patients were finding it very hard to get through to the surgery on the phone.

·          That NHS Property Services needed to ensure the problems which occurred with Brunswick Park Health Centre were not repeated.

·         That the GPs needed to agree to the new leases well in advance of the building being ready.

RESOLVED that:

1)    The Committee note the report

2)    The Committee request that NHS England and NHS Property Services attend the meeting of the Committee in July 2015 to provide an additional update.