Agenda item

Michael Holmes, Policy Officer, to present

Michael Holmes, Policy Officer, presented an update on the above Scrutiny Review.

Three of the Review’s recommendation had been directed to the Health and Wellbeing Board.   The Board’s response was as follows:-

Improving information for patients

-          The Health and Wellbeing Board should consider developing a borough wide publicity campaign to raise awareness about the impact of not cancelling unneeded appointments

A text messaging reminder service was provided for patients although it did rely upon patients signing up for such a service.  It was also noted that a significant number of appointments made on the day were missed

Screens and posters in GP practices would promote messages asking patients to cancel unneeded appointments with the intention that a practice would maintain and publicise a running total of appointments missed and hours lost.  Similar messages would be included in staff bulletins and could include Rotherham Chamber pushing the messages out through their member employers.  Within the Council, staff awareness could be raised via the Managing Director’s briefing, Friday Factfile and Take 5 staff newsletter including a request to spread the word amongst family and friends

-          The Health and Wellbeing Board should consider revisiting the “Choose Well” campaign to raise awareness of how to access local services and which is the most appropriate service in a range of situations

The Choose Well campaign had been superseded by “right care first time” which had a similar focus on changing behaviour and encouraging people to use options such as Pharmacy First or self-care rather than a GP or NHS111 before attending A&E.  This would tie in with national campaigns

The CCG had now produced a winter communications action plan focussing on four key steps – self-care, Pharmacy First, NHS111 and GP or walk-in centre

Capacity to deliver primary care

-          In light of the future challenges for Rotherham outlined in the (review) report, the review recommends that a proactive approach is taken by the Health and Wellbeing Board to mitigate risk to the delivery of primary care

The Board would have a role in bringing partners together to ensure consistent messages were delivered though it would not lead on any campaigns.  It would also take a wider perspective, working with the new Rotherham Together Partners, in promoting Rotherham as a destination and highlighting local health and wellbeing initiatives

There would be a revamped website, Twitter account and quarterly newsletter to raise awareness of partners’ activity and disseminate important messages

Discussion ensued on the response with the following raised/clarified:-

·           Work with large size employers on how to get the message across to their employees

·           Although national research showed that there was a relationship between longer waiting times and missed appointments, and certainly was with hospital appointments, often patients still did not attend if the appointment had been made the same day.  Feedback from GP practices on DNAs was not part of the national contracts but this was something that would hopefully be targeted.  The texting system worked well but there need to be more patients’ numbers on the system

·           The cost of missed appointments needed to be raised and the fact that another patient could have had that slot.  The voluntary sector, faith groups, disability organisations etc. should be used to spread the message

Resolved:-  (1)  That the action being taken in relation to the access of GPs Review’s specific recommendations directed to the Health and Wellbeing Board be noted.

(2)  That a report is scheduled in 6 months time with a final update on all the 12 recommendations from the Access to GPs Scrutiny Review, incorporating  progress on delivering the interim GP strategy.