Agenda item

(To receive a report from NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCG), which advises the Committee of an engagement exercise by Vale Medical Group on its proposal to permanently close its branch surgery in Woolsthorpe.  Sarah-Jane Mill (Chief Operating Officer, LCCG) will be in attendance for this item)

The Chairman invited Clair Raybould, Chief Operating Officer (South Locality) Lincolnshire CCG, Shona Brewster Head of Transformation & Delivery (South West Locality) Lincolnshire CCG and Sarah- Jane Mills, Chief Operating Officer (West Locality), Lincolnshire CCG to present the item to the Committee.

The Committee noted that this item could be found on pages 109 to 118 of the report pack.

The Committee was advised that the Vale Medical Group was undertaking an engagement exercise on its proposal to permanently close its branch surgery in Woolsthorpe.  It was noted that the engagement exercise was due to close on 27 October 2020.

The Committee was advised that the Vale Medical Group's Stackyard Surgery (in Croxton Kerrial) had approximately 3,370 registered patients (as of 1 September 2020); and this included approximately 1,648 patients based in Woolsthorpe.  It was noted that the Vale Medical Group was also proposing to make an administrative change, moving Stackyard Surgery from Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) into East Leicestershire and Rutland CC.  It was noted further that this was a separate issue on which East Leicestershire and Rutland would be leading.

It was reported that from the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Woolsthorpe Surgery including its dispensary had been temporarily closed, with all face to face consultations taking place at the Stackyard Surgery.  This was because it had not been possible to maintain social distancing at the Woolsthorpe Surgery.

Attached at Appendix A to the report was a copy of the letter sent from the Vale Medical Group to patients; and Appendix B provided details of frequently asked questions for the Committee to consider.

That Committee was advised that to date 120 surveys had so far been returned, which had provided a range of feedback.  The Committee was advised further that on the 27 October 2020 the Lincolnshire CCG would start analysing the responses received.  The Committee noted that the matter would then be considered by the Lincolnshire CCG's Primary Care Commissioning Committee.

During discussion, the following comments were raised:

·   Concern was expressed on the proposed closure as a lot of residents attending the Woolsthorpe Branch Surgery were elderly; and did not have access to public transport to the Stackyard Surgery; especially when patient transport did not cover GP appointments.  The Committee was advised that during the pandemic safer and more efficient ways of delivering primary care had been introduced, which had included internet, telephone and video consultations, therefore a larger number of patients had been dealt with virtually; and those needing face to face appointments had been seen by a GP.  For those patients with a genuine medical need, a home visiting service was still in place;

·       Would patients continue to receive same medications/procedures with East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG.  Reassurance was given that medications and procedures would remain the same;

·   Had the proposed closure had an equality impact assessment?  Confirmation was given that a equality impact assessment had been undertaken, as had a demand and capacity modelling exercise and that this information would be available on the website;

·   Why in 2017 when Stackyard Surgery and Woolsthorpe merged, it was said that Woolsthorpe would not close, why was it a proposal now?   The Committee was advised there had been no intention to close the building; however, the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in unprecedented and unanticipated changes to the health service, particularly in how primary care services were provided. 

The Committee expressed their concerns to the proposal and agreed that further information needed to be made readily available to the Committee; and that a full account needed to be taken of the views of Woolsthorpe residents prior to a decision being made concerning the proposal.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Chairman be authorised to write to Vale Medical Group, recording the Committee's opposition to the proposal to close the Woolsthorpe Branch Surgery.

2.    That the Chairman be authorised to write to the Chairman of the Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group's Primary Care Commissioning Committee, urging that full account is taken of the views of Woolsthorpe residents when it makes a decision on the proposed closure of the Woolsthorpe Branch Surgery.

3.    That the equality impact assessment; information on demand and capacity modelling; and the response of patients to the survey on the proposal be circulated to the Committee when this is available.