Agenda item

This report asks Members to consider a petition referral request.

Discussion:

Members considered a petition referral request in respect of GP practices at Rainham Healthy Living Centre.

Councillor Potter, the Lead Petitioner, addressed the Committee. He stated that last summer local councillors had not been advised about the closure of the satellite branch of Long Catilis Road Surgery, i.e., the Blue Suite at Rainham Healthy Living Centre and instead had heard about this from concerned residents. The statement from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) that the Blue Suite had not closed did not reflect the experience of patients who did not believe it would re-open after its temporary closure and clarity was needed about its future as well as more detail about GP numbers in the Rainham area. Councillor Potter suggested a meeting should take place between local councillors, the Primary Care Network and the CCG to discuss these issues and for a briefing note to be provided in advance.

The CCG advised that the Long Catilis Road Surgery had practices on 2 sites and in December 2020 they had received a request to close the Blue Suite, a request the CCG did not support. The CCG had advised the Surgery to carry out more intensive engagement. The CCG welcomed the offer to meet with local councillors.

In discussing the referral request, the point was made that if the Blue Suite was to permanently close this would cause difficulties for many patients, particularly  the elderly, as they would have to travel further to access services. In response to a question about plans to bring the number of GPs in Medway in line with the national average, the CCG advised that they were investing in a range of staff in GP practices and noted patients were supported by more than GPs. Details of this could be provided to Members. The potential closure of the Rainham Healthy Living was raised as a concern by some Members given the decrease in services provided there.

It was suggested that Members be provided with information about the  development of a Kent and Medway GP estate strategy and also what the CCG was doing to encourage the creation of GP training practices.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to:

a)      note the response provided to the petition and the reasons for referring the response to the Committee.

b)      welcome the assurance given by the CCG that local people will be consulted and engaged on any proposals relating to the Rainham Health Living Centre.

c)      welcome the commitment given by the CCG that this Committee will be consulted on any proposals to change the current primary care provision at the Rainham Healthy Living Centre.

d)      request a briefing paper from the CCG on GP numbers across Medway, including the numbers of other primary care practitioners.

e)     request that a meeting take place between Rainham Councillors, the CCG and the Primary Care Network to discuss the events at, and proposals for, the Blue Suite, including the processes involved in any proposed closure and also the use of the Rainham Health Living Centre.

f)       request that a briefing be sent to local councillors on the issues referred to in (e) in advance of the meeting referred to.

g)      request a briefing note from the CCG on the development of a Kent and Medway GP estate strategy and also the CCG’s plans to encourage the creation of GP training practices.

(In accordance with Council Rule 12.6, Councillors Murray and Price asked that their votes in favour be recorded.)