Issue - meetings

Background:

This report asked the Cabinet to reconsider the GP Access Task Group report, which included 14 recommendations aimed at improving the workforce capacity across primary care in Medway to ensure patients would receive better access and outcomes for their health needs.

The report had initially been submitted to the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 January 2023. The Committee had decided not to submit the report to Cabinet and that the report and its interim recommendations would be revisited in summer 2023 when the work can be completed with more GP engagement.

At its next meeting on 9 March, following a Member’s item, five members of the Committee gave support for a minority view on the basis that they did not agree with the view that the report’s findings were insufficient. The Cabinet, was therefore, asked to consider the report at its meeting on 4 April 2023.

On 4 April, the Cabinet considered the report, which set out the minority view. At that meeting the Cabinet noted the report and agreed that the Task Group report and its draft recommendations be revisited in Summer 2023 to enable completion of the work, including further engagement with GPs and that the completed Task Group report be presented to a future Cabinet meeting.

It was noted that following the local elections, which had taken place on 4 May 2023, a new administration had been formed and it had been decided that the GP Access Task Group report, which had been presented to the Cabinet at its meeting on 4 April 2023 would be resubmitted to the Cabinet for consideration of the recommendations.

The GP Access Task Group interim report was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken in relation to the 14 recommendations made by the Task Group. This was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

The Deputy Leader thanked all staff and those in the health community who had supported and informed the Task Group for their commitment to a diligent and thorough piece of work undertaken at a time when Primary Care had been very challenged by patient demand and workforce recruitment.