Agenda item

APMS GP Practice in Cricklewood

Kay Matthews, Chief Operating Officer, Barnet CCG

The Chairman invited the following to the table:

·       Kay Matthews – Chief Operating Officer, Barnet CCG

·       Collette Wood – Director of Primary Care Transformation, Barnet CCG

Ms Wood reported that the contract for the Alternative Personal Medical Services (APMS) GP Practice in Cricklewood would shortly come to an end and a consultation had been carried out from April – July 2019. Further to the feedback received, the North Central London (NCL) Primary Care Committee in common had decided on 22 August 2019 that the GP Practice in Cricklewood would be re-procured. The contract for the new practice would be advertisedin December 2019 with a view to awarding a contract around July 2020. The aim would be to find a new venue in Cricklewood for the Practice but it would remain in the current building in the meantime.

A Member enquired about the size of the Practice. Ms Wood stated that it had around 5000 patients and had grown significantly.

A Member asked how many GPs the practice would have. Ms Matthews stated this would depend on the contract, but a multi-partner Practice would be sought. The Primary Care workforce had changed and new roles introduced such as practitioner nurses and healthcare support workers both carrying out extended roles, additional physiotherapists and pharmacists. Therefore, it was difficult to be specific about the number of GPs.

A Member asked for further details on the new ways of working. Ms Wood responded that Barnet has a good history of Practices working together, but this would be a more formal arrangement in the future with an emphasis on integrated working. Primary Care Networks (PCNs) would be the foundation for integrated care. She offered to speak in more detail on this under the’ Integration Barnet CCG’ item due to be discussed at the next meeting.

Action: Barnet CCG

The Director of Public Health enquired about the proportion of patients registered with Barnet and Brent GP Practices attending the Walk In Centre and whether Barnet was working with Brent. Ms Matthews stated that she did not have details at the meeting and the CCG was working with Brent. All CCGs were guided by the national Primary Care Strategy and details were in the Long Term Plan. The number of appointments undertaken via Skype or apps would also increase over time.

(Information sent following the meeting in answer to the Director of Public Health’s Enquiry:

In 2018/19, 58% of attendances were by patients registered with a Brent GP and 24% by Barnet GP registered patients – the majority from local practices. The remaining came from Camden and other surrounding boroughs in smaller numbers.)

Cricklewood Walk In Centre

Ms Matthews clarified that the Walk In Centre is separate to the GP Practice in Cricklewood, but in the same building.

She reported that the consultation on this was from 12 August until 18 November 2019. The decision for Brent and Barnet would be made on either 18 or 19 December 2019 and the CCG would report back to HOSC in February 2020.

A Member noted that there was no similar Walk In Centre for Brent patients and asked whether the bigger GP Practice would resolve this. Ms Matthews responded that Primary Care models were changing and Barnet was one of only a few boroughs with Walk In Centres. The CCG’s view was that, as a small Walk In Centre, it did not offer the range of facilities which fits the original concept, such as those at Finchley and Edgware. The CCG had also invested into Primary Care with 48,000 Out-of-Hours appointments provided in GP Hubs. Brent had acted similarly. Patients’ medical records are available at the Hubs whereas they are not available at the Walk In Centres.   Many patients are confused with so many points of entry and are attending Walk In Centres when the Hubs would be more suitable. 

A Member asked whether there was any information regarding the uptake of the additional appointments and whether appointments could be made via GP websites. Ms Wood responded that over 90% of appointments were typically taken up and that patients should be able to access the appointment system online for all Barnet’s GP Practices.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the verbal report.